A total of 25 health and exercise science students from Southern Cross University will undertake study and work placements in Vietnam and China next year with the held of Australian Government grants.
Announcing the support, the federal MP for Page, Kevin Hogan said the placements are part of the New Colombo Plan program aimed at fostering a better understanding of Asia-Pacific countries by Australian students.
The ‘old’ Colombo Plan, launched in 1951 and continuing to a lesser degree today, was focused on sponsoring Asian students to come to Australia for their studies. The new version has been sparked by the realisation that Australians lack knowledge about the countries where our economic, and perhaps cultural future lies.
The SCU New Colombo Plan Mobility Projects will see 15 occupational therapy students travelling to Vietnam to complete a three-week placement in a school for students with disabilities, and 10 exercise science students studying traditional Chinese medicine and exercise rehabilitation at the Tianjin University of Sport in China.
“These are exciting projects that demonstrate the capacity and drive of our local students,” Mr Hogan said.
More than 7,400 Australian students will study and undertake work-based learning in the region in 2017, taking the total number of students supported by the program in its first four years to more than 17,000.
More information at DFAT.
