CDU celebrates New Colombo Plan success story

Charles Darwin University will continue to strengthen its international ties in the Indo-Pacific with a celebration this week to mark its successful involvement with the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Maddocks will welcome the Federal Member for Solomon, Mrs Natasha Griggs, to a reception at Casuarina campus tomorrow (Thursday, August 6) to mark the occasion with a number of student participants.
 
“We are delighted that New Colombo Plan grants have since 2014 opened international doors and paved the way to more expansive futures for more than 140 of our students,” Professor Maddocks said.

“The grants provide opportunities for participating 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 the $212,000 grant received in the inaugural round allowed 86 Charles Darwin University students to participate in intensive short-term study programs in the areas of law in Indonesia and teaching placements in Hong Kong.

“A further grant of $153,000 has allowed another 56 students to participate in law and humanitarian programs in Indonesia, China and India this year,” he said.

“A prestigious scholarship, also funded by the New Colombo Plan, will allow law undergraduate Jared Ivory to undertake a one-year internship at Universitas Gadjah Mada, a key strategic partner of ours in Indonesia.”

Professor Maddocks said he was optimistic that Charles Darwin University students would be afforded more opportunities under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s New Colombo Plan when details of the next round of mobility grants were announced this month, and when details of the scholarship program were announced in November.