JCU students go global

Through the 2020 round of the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility Program, JCU will receive more than $1.1 million over three years to assist 303 students participate in international learning experiences in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes outbound mobility projects with other Australian universities where JCU takes the lead.

Pro Vice Chancellor (International) Melissa Banks says this funding means more JCU students will have the opportunity to expand their horizons by studying or interning overseas.

“This is a significant funding increase on last year,” she said. “This increase recognises the great work JCU is doing to provide students with exceptional international mobility programs.

“We’re also proud to have led two successful group applications with other universities to send students to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

“An international study experience builds students’ intercultural awareness and global competencies, which on return, generally have a positive influence on future academic and employment outcomes,” she said.

Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding says the NCP funding will help deepen students’ understanding of our region.

“JCU is a university for the Tropics and by gaining experience in our region as students, they’ll become graduates who have a better understanding of Australia’s neighbours, which will benefit both our students and the broader communities of the north.

“Giving our students the opportunity to learn overseas with the NCP Mobility Program is one of the many ways we are able to prepare our graduates for global futures, and speaks to our aim of creating a brighter future for the Tropics,” Professor Harding said.

The New Colombo Plan is an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that supports Australian undergraduate students to study and undertake internships in the region.