New Colombo scholars set to deepen ties in the Pacific

Tuesday, 28 November 2017

Six exceptional students from the University of Newcastle (UON) are set to shine in the Indo-Pacific as 2018 New Colombo Scholars under the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program.

Announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, and the Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, the New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program provides opportunities for Australian undergraduate students to undertake semester-based study and internships or mentorships in the Indo-Pacific.

Pictured: UON students Georgia Fardell, Sophie Austin, Jack Shearer and Zachary Groth with the Hon Julie Bishop MP. Photo courtesy of Department of Foreign Affairs

UON’s six students will travel to South Korea, Japan, China, Singapore and Hong Kong SAR in 2018 where they will enhance their global awareness as well as strengthen Australia’s ties with the Indo-Pacific region.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Advancement), Mrs Winnie Eley, said she was delighted such an incredible group of scholars were being given this unique opportunity to further their educational and professional experience.

“I have had the pleasure of meeting the 2018 scholars and they are an incredible group dedicated to advancing their knowledge and understanding in a global context.

“I congratulate all the recipients, who have made both the University and their families incredibly proud and I know they will continue to achieve excellence as they progress in their journey,” Mrs Eley said.

In 2018, the Australian Government will support 120 Scholars from 33 Australian universities to study, work and live in the Indo-Pacific region. The recipients of the 2018 New Colombo Plan Scholarship Round were announced at a ceremony on Monday, 27 November 2017.

UON’s 2018 NCP scholars:

  • Sophie Austin, Bachelor of Communication – Media and communication at Korea University. Ms Austin plans to undertake an internship with a media or entertainment organisation.
  • Georgia Fardell, Bachelor of Mathematics/Bachelor of Science – Engineering at Tokyo Metropolitan University. Ms Fardell plans to undertake an internship within Japan’s solar industry.
  • Olivia Gallimore, Bachelor of Laws (Hons) – Legal studies at Tsinghua University. Ms Gallimore plans to undertake an internship with Geoff Raby & Associates Beijing.
  • Zachary Groth, Bachelor of Mathematics/Bachelor of Science – Mathematics and physics at Nanyang Technological University. Mr Groth plans to undertake a mentorship under an academic staff member at his host university.
  • Jack Shearer, Bachelor of Commerce – Commerce and finance at the City University of Hong Kong. Mr Shearer plans to undertake an internship with a financial institution based in Shanghai or Beijing.
  • Andrew Sunol, Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) and Laws (Hons) – Legal studies at the University of Hong Kong. Mr Sunol plans to undertaken internships with law firms in Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam.

Further to the NCP Scholars announcement, the NCP Alumni Ambassador was officially launched on December 1, naming Ruby Bhave as UON's Alumni Ambassador. The New Colombo Plan Alumni Program supports alumni to maintain a connection to each other, the New Colombo Plan and the Indo-Pacific region as they progress in their lives and careers.

Ruby is currently finishing her Bachelors of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In 2016, she undertook language training at Lexis Korea - 렉시스 코리아 and completed a semester of exchange at the KAIST ISSS. She completed Internships with both Tusk Advisory and AECOM in Indonesia through a New Colombo Plan scholarship.

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