First published 15 October 2019
QUT International Executive Director Paul Bolt said while QUT projects have been well funded previously, the new NCP funding had a greater emphasis on the Pacific, particularly Fiji and Papua New Guinea, than ever before.
“A number of the successful mobility projects are new projects which will run for the first time in 2020. It’s exciting to see a diverse range of international opportunities for QUT students,” Mr Bolt said.
“This success would not be possible without the support of passionate project leaders from across all faculties, who through their connections and network, create these opportunities for students to enrich their learning and develop their cross-cultural skills.”
QUT will receive $764,200 in new NCP funding to support 228 students in 17 mobility projects across the Indo-Pacific region during 2020 and early 2021. In addition, QUT will receive a further$447,150 for eight continuing programs, supporting 86 students.
The QUT projects cover a diverse range of topics including creative arts, film making, health promotion, nutrition, property economics and clinical legal education; each involving collaborations with one or several international partners.
Participating students will experience study in destinations including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand.
In one of the winning projects, 12 Creative Industries students will visit Goroka in Papua New Guinea. There they will work in partnership with the community organisation Kafe Urban Settlers Women's Association and University of Goroka School of Humanities to learn about PNG’s history, society and culture, and develop skills in cross-cultural empathy, collaboration and communication.
In another project, 20 students from across various disciplines in health will study the impact of culture on the provision of healthcare services in Malaysia and compare the healthcare systems and issues there with Australia. This two-week program is specially designed by QUT and Sunway University, Malaysia.
A further 12 QUT journalism students will partner with University of South Pacific journalism students to report on development, hope and happiness in Fiji, which despite economic challenges consistently rates in annual Gallup International surveys as the world’s number one nation for happiness.
QUT law students dressed in Bhutan’s national dress, together with students from a local high school. In 2019 QUT students worked with school students, teachers and lawyers to present engaging workshops on legal issues relevant to young people in Bhutan. Their project was funded by the New Colombo Plan Mobility Program.
The NCP aims to deepen Australia’s knowledge of the Indo-Pacific and strengthen partnerships with the region through study and internship/mentorship undertaken by grant recipients.
Subsidies are awarded to Australian undergraduate students of between $1,000 and $3,000 for short term projects and $5,000 and $7,000 for semester length projects.
QUT students who wish to find out what programs are available and further information, including how to apply, should visit the QUT Global Office in A Block (Gardens Point campus) or email stae@qut.edu.au.
For more information about studying abroad, visit the QUT Global website.
Caption main image: QUT students Rachel Treasure, Marcus Poniewierski, Angus Nobbs, Paul D’Alterio, Hrithik Naryani and Hannah-Beth Hannah-Becker gained first-hand cultural and business insights through an immersive two-week program at the Tokyo headquarters of multinational company Mitsui & Co in 2018 with funding from the New Colombo Plan Mobility Program.
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 3151, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au