Colombo Plan scholars to build Asian ties

The NCP Scholarship Program provides opportunities for Australian undergraduates to undertake semester-based study and internships or mentorships in the Asia-Pacific region.

Scott Gigante (Science) and Matthew Wiseman (Arts) will study at Fudan University in China, Indah Cox-Livingstone (Science) will study at the National University of Singapore and Georgina Davie (Arts) will study at Japan’s University of Kyoto.

As the top-ranked of 11 NCP scholars studying in China, Mr Gigante was also named as the country’s NCP Fellow.

He says the scholarship would give him an opportunity to improve his Mandarin-language skills and build ties with China’s growing computer science industry.

“I expect Australian businesses’ relationships with their Chinese counterparts to grow in number and in importance in coming years, and the Government’s New Colombo Plan provides an amazing opportunity to form these relationships with students from around the world who will become the business leaders of the future,” he says.

Mr Wiseman, who previously studied Mandarin at Fudan, will return to the university to complete his Chinese-language diploma.

He agrees Australia’s relationship with China would be hugely influential in coming decades.

“I’m learning Mandarin because I’d like to understand as much as I can about the country that will perhaps shape the world the most during my lifetime,” he says.

“I think as many people as possible should experience the diversity of cultures in our region so that we can be an informed and respectful nation.”

Ms Davie says the cultural understanding the NCP scholarships aim to foster is a fundamental aspect of any Arts degree.

“I want to be a part of the development and change occurring in Asia, helping to harness the full potential that this diverse and complex region has to offer through my future life and career path,” she says. 

“I want to work to bring the regions of the world together in a manner that is sensitive to cultural preservation, as well as promoting equity of development and resources in the face of an increasingly homogenised world, which is why the NCP scholarship is such an exciting opportunity for me.”

Ms Cox-Livingstone says studying at National University of Singapore’s internationally respected immunology program will help prepare her for postgraduate veterinary science study and provide fresh perspectives to her studies.

“I believe that having mutual study exchange between countries displays respect and recognition of each others education programs, creating stronger networks and new friendships,” she says.

Study Abroad Program Manager Rachel Wellam says this mobility is fundamental to the Melbourne experience and central to encouraging global citizenship. 

“Whilst the development of students intellectual abilities is foremost, the development of intercultural understanding is significant and desired,” she says. 

“International education promotes transformative learning, which in turn brings about a shift of consciousness that can dramatically alter an individual’s way of being and seeing in the world.”

All the Melbourne NCP scholars say this international engagement is a key benefit of the program.

“This engagement begins at an undergraduate level, from person-to-person links between students to institutional ties and collaboration between senior researchers, Mr Gigante says. 

“Hopefully the New Colombo Plan can foster the beginnings of these ties and contribute towards a more Asia-aware future.”