The New Colombo Plan Mobility Program

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The New Colombo Plan Mobility Program 2024

The New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Program provides funding for Australian universities and consortia to provide grants to Australian undergraduate students to participate in Mobility Projects. Mobility projects can be semester based or short term study, internships, mentorships, practicums, industry visits and research in 40 host locations across the Indo-Pacific region.

Host Locations

Mobility Projects may be conducted in the following 40 eligible Indo-Pacific Host Locations:

NCP Country Table

Mobility Project Eligibility

Australian universities can apply for funding for Mobility Projects that meet the following criteria:

  • include at least one of the following components:
    • study
    • in-country face-to-face language study
    • internships (including clinical placements, practicums, or artist residencies), or
    • research
  • take place between 1 January 2024 –31 December 2025
  • provide credit/count towards the course requirements for the relevant students’s undergraduate course at their Australian university
  • be undertaken in an eligible host location
  • must not be undertaken at an offshore campus of an Australian university or a university established or headquartered outside of the host location, unless approved by DFAT
  • must not breach DFAT’s safeguard principles
  • Must comply with DFAT’s Child Protection Policy and Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy including the reporting obligations under these policies.

Participating Student Eligibility

A Student participating in a Mobility Project must meet the following eligibility requirements:

At least 70 per cent of Students participating in any given Mobility Project must be aged 18 to 28 inclusive at the commencement of their Mobility Project. Up to 30 per cent of Students may be over the age of 28. Students under the age of 18 cannot participate in any Mobility Project. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students do not need to be aged between 18 and 28 and are to be counted as students aged under age 28 for calculating the 70 per cent.

Changes to the 2024 Round

  • Weighting of assessment criteria updated – more weight on Criteria 1 (Educational value 30%) and Criteria 2 (Establish/Strengthen linkages 40%)
  • Project implementation term extended from 21 months to 24 months (i.e. from 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2025). Students can depart by 31 Dec 2025 to commence their mobility project
  • Maximum program duration increased from 1 semester to 2 consecutive semesters.
  • Expanded eligible courses to all undergraduate courses (see Glossary on Guideline)
  • Suggested student grant amounts updated (Guideline 5.2.1)
  • Return of Admin Fund – University must return all Admin Fund if no student grant has been expended. If not all students travelled, University may retain admin fund equivalent to 10% paid to students who did travel. However, University could provide explanation with valid reasons and details to NCP Secretariat for consideration of retaining the amount of Admin Fund. (Guideline 5.2.2)

2024 Round Priority Themes

While NCP mobility projects may focus on any subject, applicants are encouraged to consider projects that establish and support linkages aligned with Australian Government priorities, for example:

  • supporting First Nations engagement with the Indo-Pacific
  • tackling shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific such as climate change, cybersecurity, regional stability, sustainability, First Nations Peoples’ issues and economic growth
  • embracing innovation, research and new ways of working, such as clean energy, ecommerce, e-health, transport, manufacturing, technology and engineering
  • building capacity in areas such as education, environmental management, governance, health, human rights, disaster preparedness and disability support transport
  • increasing trade, business and investment opportunities, and post-COVID-19 economic recovery
  • building and reviving arts and cultural links with the region
  • building Australians’ capabilities in the languages of the Indo-Pacific

Program Funding

Student Grants

(Guideline 5.2.1)

Students participating in a mobility project will each receive a student grant between $3,000 and $20,000. The student grant, in the first instance, is intended to contribute to the cost of the student’s international travel and in-country living expenses during the project. The NCP Program’s intended outcomes include increasing the number of Australian university undergraduates with Indo-Pacific capability. To support this outcome, the amount of each student grant should maximise student participation in the mobility project.

The actual amount of a student grant may vary depending on the relative costs of the host location, the nature of the mobility project and other considerations. If a mobility project includes different options for an overseas experience, such as a 2-week option and a 6-week option, you may provide a student grant at different amounts. Students participating in a mobility project as a group for the same duration, at the same location, undertaking the same activities must each receive a student grant of an equal amount.

A value-for-money justification for the proposed per-student funding sought in the application is required to be included in the Project Description of the Application. The proposed per-student funding should be based on in person costs not on virtual costs.

Guide from NCP guidelines:

  • up to $3,000 for participation in a mobility project of at least 2 weeks
  • up to $4,000 for participation in a mobility project of at least 4 weeks
  • up to $5,000 for participation in a mobility project of at least 6 weeks
  • up to $10,000 for participation in a mobility project of at least one semester
  • up to $20,000 for participation in a mobility project of two consecutive semesters

Administration Funding

(Guideline 5.2.2)

All successful grant recipients will receive administration funding of ten per cent of total student grants for a Mobility Project. Administration funding can be used for administration associated with Mobility Project Management.

Universities must return any unspent administration funding to DFAT (together with any unspent mobility grant funding) once an NCP Mobility project is completed and financially acquitted. If there was no student participation in an approved Mobility Project, the full administration funding must be returned to DFAT. If not all students travelled as part of a project, you may retain administration funding equivalent to 10% of grants paid to students who did travel. Where extenuating circumstances prevented students travelling, DFAT will consider requests to retain additional administration funding, up to 10% of grant funding offered.

Application and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Step 1: Discuss your project idea with your school and Global Experience Team
  • Step 2: Submit a short EOI to Global Office by 10 July (extended to 16 July)
  • Step 3: Upon HOS endorsement on EOI, submit formal application on DFAT portal (ISEO)
  • Step 4: Work with Global Experience team to create competitive submission

The EOI will form the basis of the submission and will give Heads of School the opportunity to review and ensure the project can be run in line with objectives of the school.

The DFAT formal application form will be more in-depth in explaining the project details, partnerships, and how the project aligns with the objectives of New Colombo Plan.

Timeline:

NCP Timeline 2024

Further Information

Info Session and Resources:

Discussion Meeting with Global Experience team – we are happy to meet and discuss with you on your ideas, please contact us at Global-Experience@newcastle.edu.au.

Contact

If you have any questions or require additional support to complete the application process, please contact the Global Experience team at Global-Experience@newcastle.edu.au