Western Sydney University success in prestigious New Colombo Plan Program

Qisthy Kodarusman (left) receiving her Scholarship at Parliament House

Western Sydney University students will study and live in Taiwan, Nepal and the Republic of Korea next year after receiving prestigious New Colombo Plan Scholarships. The scholarships are part of a signature initiative of the Australian Government that aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific by supporting Australian undergraduate students to study and undertake internships in the region.

Western Sydney University also achieved significant results in the 2020 Round of the New Colombo Plan Mobility Grants, receiving a total of $694,100 to support 212 students to participate in 13 mobility projects across the Indo-Pacific next year.

2020 scholarship recipient, Bachelor of International Studies and Bachelor of Social Sciences student, Qisthy Kodarsman, will undertake her placement at Korea University in the Republic of Korea and received her award today at Parliament House.

“Receiving the New Colombo Plan Scholarship was something I dreamed of achieving since the first year of my degree. Hearing I was successful felt surreal – months of hard work and meticulous planning has helped me achieve a long-standing goal that is close to my heart,” said Qisthy.

“As a New Colombo Plan Scholar, I am determined to learn about liveability in cities like Seoul and Kuala Lumpur and how I can apply this knowledge to our rapidly-growing region of Western Sydney. Ultimately, the New Colombo Plan Scholarship will give me an unprecedented opportunity to make a difference and to connect our region to the world.”

Engaging further in the Indo-Pacific region, the University will participate in several consortium projects with ACICIS Study Indonesia, Curtin University and Australian Catholic University.

Western Sydney University New Colombo Plan Scholarship recipients for 2020 include:

  • Erdem-Duran Yigiter, Bachelor of Social Science
    Visiting: Taiwan
  • Art Bae, Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Business
    Visiting: Taiwan
  • James Delprado, Bachelor of Anthropology
    Visiting: Nepal
  • Qisthy Kodarusman, Bachelor of International Studies / Bachelor of Social Sciences
    Visiting: Republic of Korea

All recipients of New Colombo Plan Mobility Grants from the University can be viewed here (opens in a new window).

ENDS

26 November 2019

Ali Sardyga, Media Officer