Swinburne students take off with New Colombo Plan scholarships
![(Left to right) Alistair de Rozario, Edward Eng, Tani Hooke and Dr Douglas Proctor at the New Colombo Plan event in Australian Parliament House](/content/dam/media/students/tani-and-edward-on-stage.jpg)
(Left to right) Alastair de Rozario, Edward Eng, Tani Hooke and Dr Douglas Proctor at the New Colombo Plan event in Australian Parliament House
In summary
- Swinburne students Edward Eng and Tani Hooke were awarded 2024 New Colombo Plan Scholarships at a formal event held at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra
- Edward Eng and Tani Hooke will be studying in Cambodia and Japan next year, respectively
- Swinburne has been awarded over $600,000 from the 2024 New Colombo Plan, which will support 144 students over eleven projects
Swinburne students Edward Eng and Tani Hooke were awarded 2024 New Colombo Plan Scholarships at a formal event held at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra.
The New Colombo Plan (NCP) is a signature initiative of the Australian Government which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting undergraduates to study and undertake internships across forty locations.
The NCP also includes the Mobility Program, where students can participate in exchange projects and study tours. Swinburne have been awarded $639,100 from the 2024 NCP Mobility Grants, which will support 144 students over eleven projects.
This includes two exchange projects and nine study tours, of which there are:
- Four for the School of Business, Law and Entrepreneurship
- Two for the School of Social Sciences, Media, Film and Education
- Two for the School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies
- One for School of Design and Architecture
A new academic journey
Scholarship student Edward is studying a Bachelor of Psychology, heading into his third year of study. Using the scholarship, he is heading to Cambodia in July next year, and beginning study there in September.
“This has been an incredible journey that is just beginning, a fact which was really cemented over the predeparture training trip,” said Edward.
“Coming from a Cambodian background myself, I’m excited to travel back and discover a part of myself. To be Australian is to be diverse and the New Colombo Plan is enabling me to explore that.”
![Edward Eng at the New Colombo Plan event Edward Eng at the New Colombo Plan event](/content/dam/media/students/edward-next-to-flag.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.3840.2160.jpeg)
Edward Eng (left) is taking the opportunity to study in Cambodia
Tani is taking her double degree studies of Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Science to Japan, where she can reconnect with her Japanese heritage. Majoring in biomedical engineering, she hopes to work with researchers who are working on the bionic eye.
“As a future biomedical engineer, I’m super excited to see how the research and development process for biomedical devices works and potentially being able to contribute something to a device that will change people’s lives.
“I’m also really looking forward to connecting with the culture in Japan. I have Japanese heritage so it will be amazing to be able to learn in depth about how Japanese culture has affected my upbringing,” said Tani.
![Tani Hooke and her fellow New Colombo Plan scholars Tani Hooke (second to the left) and her fellow New Colombo Plan scholars](/content/dam/media/students/tani-and-other-scholars.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.3840.2160.jpeg)
Tani Hooke (second to the left) and her fellow New Colombo Plan scholars
Taking a chance
Edward was honoured to be a part of the largest cohort of scholars since the New Colombo Plan began in 2013.
“This opportunity could not have been possible without the support of my partner, family, and university who guided and supported me at every stage of the application process,” said Edward.
Tani encourages anyone who has considered applying for the scholarship to take a chance, and apply again if you don’t get it the first time around.
“As someone who didn’t receive the scholarship last year and then tried again this year, I was so glad I’d put in the effort a second time around,” said Tani.
“To any potential scholars who have failed once, please try again.”
![Recipients of the New Colombo Plan Recipients of the New Colombo Plan at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra](/content/dam/media/students/all-recipients-new-colombo-plan.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.web.3840.2160.jpeg)
The prestigious scholarship is given to around one hundred Australian students each year and is worth up to $75,000.
-
Media Enquiries
Related articles
-
- Business
Swinburne students bring home two Beta Alpha Psi award wins
Students from Swinburne's Xi Sigma Chapter of the Beta Alpha Psi honour organisation have won two awards at the 2024 BAP Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.
Tuesday 13 August 2024 -
- Student News
- Film and television
Swinburne students curate "Wrestling with Reality" film season for ACMI's Cinema 3
Students from Swinburne's Cinema and Screen Studies program launch curated film season on ACMI’s streaming platform, Cinema 3.Tuesday 23 July 2024 -
- University
Meet the Swinburne students and alumni at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics
Swinburne students and alumni are making their mark at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Meet the seven Swinburne athletes who are taking on the world.
Wednesday 17 July 2024 -
- Student News
Vygo: Support at students’ fingertips
Swinburne University of Technology students will have personalised support and peer-to-peer learning at their fingertips with the new Vygo app.
Thursday 25 July 2024 -
- Student News
- University
Students decorate next gen_campus with innovation, technology and collaboration
The Decorate your next gen_campus design competition celebrates Swinburne’s next gen_campus transformation with student art depicting the themes collaboration, innovation and technology
Tuesday 18 June 2024