University of Wollongong students announced as New Colombo Plan Scholars
Five high-achieving students will have the study experience of a lifetime after they were announced as recipients of the annual New Colombo Plan Scholarships.
Hannah Lawrance, Lara Hase, Maya Willis, Lauren Kemp and James Watson will spend part of the next year in the Indo-Pacific as part of the Federal Government initiative, which supports undergraduate students to undertake study and internships in the region.
The University of Wollongong (UOW) students have each chosen a different location in the Indo-Pacific, where they will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in their chosen fields.
The UOW recipients, part of 150 scholars around Australia, were presented with their awards during a ceremony in Canberra today (Tuesday 6 December).
The New Colombo Plan aims to create strong relationships between Australia and Indo-Pacific nations, with more than 30 UOW students taking part in the initiative since it launched in 2014.
It is the second year in a row that five students have been chosen for the program, the largest cohort of New Colombo Plan Scholars ever selected from UOW.
Professor Theo Farrell, UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Academic and Student Life), congratulated the students on their success in the program.
“The New Colombo Plan is a tremendous opportunity for students to expand their minds and gain a once-in-a-lifetime experience studying and working in a new place and new culture.
“I am thrilled that five top students have been chosen to represent UOW and to represent Australia, and most importantly, to have the opportunity to enrich their learning through travel.
“Congratulations to Hannah, Lara, James, Maya and Lauren. We wish you all the best in your New Colombo Plan adventures.”
Previous UOW New Colombo Plans Scholars have travelled to countries throughout the Indo-Pacific, including Vietnam, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Japan and Samoa, studying fields as diverse as electrical engineering, public health, human geography, marketing and tourism, conservation, and Indigenous culture.
The New Colombo Plan involves a scholarship program for study of up to one year and internships or mentorships, and a flexible mobility grants program for both short and longer-term study, internships, mentorships, practicums and research.