The New Colombo Plan is an initiative of the
Australian Government
The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government or simply as the federal government, is the national executive government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The executive consists of the pr ...
aimed at increasing exchange in the Indo-Pacific region for Australian university students. The plan was launched as a signature initiative of the
Abbott government
The Abbott government was the federal executive government of Australia led by the 28th Prime Minister Tony Abbott. The government was made up of members of the Liberal–National Coalition. The Leader of The Nationals, Warren Truss, served ...
's foreign policy in 2014, and was aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia, by supporting Australian undergraduates studying and undertaking internships in the region. The program consists of two separate grant streams, the New Colombo Plan Scholarship and the New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant.
In 2014, the pilot scheme supported 40 scholars and more than 1300 mobility students to study and undertake work placements. In 2015 the Scheme expanded further across the Indo-Pacific, awarding 69 scholarships and supporting more than 3,100 mobility students. The scheme was continued by the
Turnbull government
The Turnbull government was the federal executive government of Australia led by the 29th prime minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, from 2015 to 2018. It succeeded the Abbott government, which brought the Coalition to power at the 2013 Au ...
. By 2017, the NCP was supporting around 7,400 mobility students and 105 scholarship recipients.
The initiative is jointly administered by the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the department of the Australian government responsible for foreign policy and international relations, development aid (under the name Australian Aid), consular services, overseas trade ...
and
Department of Education (Australia, 2019–2020)
The Australian Department of Education was a short-lived department of the Government of Australia in existence between 29 May 2019 and 1 February 2020. It was charged with the responsibility for national policies and programs that help Austra ...
.
Scholarships
Scholars receive a dedicated case manager, internship and networking opportunities, a training program from the Australian Government, and up to $87,000 in monetary benefits per successful applicant. Scholars must undertake a credited exchange or study abroad program in the Indo-Pacific, and they typically conduct internships, mentorships, language training and community advocacy while abroad.
Scholar selection first consists of Universities nominating up to 10 students to compete nationally for the Scholarships. Each university varies in nomination selectivity and process. Successful nominees then proceed through Australian Government selection processes. Selection criteria for the Scholarships are:
* Academic excellence at the tertiary level;
* Leadership in the community;
* Adaptability and resilience; and,
* Ability to contribute to New Colombo Plan goals.
The application process also considers reports from academic and community-based referees.
Mobility grants
Mobility grants are grants of between AU$3,000 and $7,000 to assist Australian undergraduate university students with short-term study, practicums, research and internships.
See also
*
Colombo Plan
The Colombo Plan is a regional intergovernmental organization that began operations on 1 July 1951. The organization was conceived at an international conference, The Commonwealth Conference on Foreign Affairs held in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri ...
References
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Foreign relations of Australia
Abbott government