New Colombo Plan to get more Oz students to India

This is a signature initiative of the Australian Government, which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia

The New Colombo Plan, which supports Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the Indo-Pacific region, was on Thursday launched by Tony Abbott, Prime Minister of Australia, here.

Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Abbott said when the Colombo Plan was initiated in 1950, the best and the brightest students had come to universities in Australia to live and earn and then return to the home country, taking back a rich experience. He added that between 1950 and 1985, about 40,000 students had visited the country to study and earn.

“In any given year, there are at least 40,000 students who study in Australian universities. But, there are few Australian students studying in India. This will change after the New Colombo Plan,” he said.

A series of memoranda of understanding between Indian and Australian institutes were also signed — between Mumbai University and Deakin University for short-term programmes; Calcutta University and the University of Western Sydney; BSE Institute and the University of Western Sydney; and the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras and the Swinburne University of Technology, among others.

The New Colombo Plan involves a scholarship programme for study of up to one year and internships or mentorships, and a flexible mobility grants programme for short- and long-term courses, internships, mentorships, practicums (practical section of a course of study) and research. It is open to Australian undergraduates aged 18-28.

The New Colombo Plan intends to encourage two-way flow of students in the region. The Australian government has committed $100 million over five years to the plan.

A 2014 pilot phase currently supports around 1,300 mobility programme students and 40 scholarship holders for courses in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Next year, based on the response, this plan will be expanded to cover India and others, and up to 40 scholarships would be awarded to allow Australian students spend a year at Asian institutions.

In 2015, the plan aims to support approximately 60 scholarships and provide around $8 million in mobility grants for Australian undergraduate students.