Four University of Melbourne students have been named as New Colombo Plan Scholars for 2023, joining a cohort of 150 recipients from around the country.
The New Colombo Plan Scholarships program supports student to study for up to one year and complete internships or mentorships in one of 40 locations in the Indo-Pacific.
This is the largest cohort of NCP Scholars since the scheme was launched in 2014 as an initiative of the Australian Government, aiming to increase knowledge of the Indo-Pacific by supporting Australian undergraduates to engage in the region.
The scholarships were officially announced at an awards ceremony in Canberra on Tuesday 6 December.
The University of Melbourne’s New Colombo Scholars are:
- Asha Hamilton, Bachelor of Arts (Anthropology and History) student who will complete a study program at Waseda University, Japan.
- Lachlan Forster, Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Studies, and History) student who will complete a study program at Singapore Management University, Singapore.
- Yunyan (Davidson) Yue, Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) student who will complete a study program at National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
- Maya McDonnell, Bachelor of Design (Architecture) student who will complete a study program at the University of New Caledonia, New Caledonia.
University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor International Professor Michael Wesley congratulated the four scholars.
“It is inspiring to see these young Australians leading the way in our engagement in the Indo-Pacific and I wish them well on their study program, which I hope they use this opportunity to build meaningful and lifelong connections with our regional neighbours,” Professor Wesley said.
“The University of Melbourne prides itself on producing high-quality graduates who want to deliver their best as socially conscious global citizens. It is programs like the New Colombo Plan Scholarships that facilitate such important learning experiences and opportunities for connection and inclusion.”
