New Colombo Plan grants open doors for CDU students

More than 120 Charles Darwin University students will receive funding to visit and study in Southeast Asia, following the announcement today of the latest round of New Colombo Plan Mobility grants.

Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Maddocks said the Australian Government had offered $455,000 for six student mobility projects over the next three years.

“Some 57 of our students will be the beneficiaries of the funding next year, allowing them to undertake short-term projects in law, engineering, the environment and humanitarian studies in Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Philippines and India,” Professor Maddocks said.

Even greater numbers of students will be able to participate in the ensuing two years of the program.
“The grants will allow students to broaden their appreciation of our immediate region, to deepen Australia’s relationships in the region, and to develop their skills and knowledge,” Professor Maddocks said.

Furthermore, Charles Darwin University has won an additional $50,000 grant that will allow 10 students to undertake language studies in Indonesia next year. This funding comes via the Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies of which CDU is a member.

This is the third consecutive year that Charles Darwin University has placed successful applications for New Colombo Plan funding, having received $212,000 in 2014 and $153,000 last year.

The New Colombo Plan is an Australian Government initiative to deepen Australia’s relationships in the Indo Pacific by supporting thousands of undergraduates to study in the region.