More Australian students will head to Viet Nam in 2018 to study and undertake work placements under the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan mobility programme, announced the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam.

International students make Chung cake together (Illustrative photo: VNA)

As many as 784 Australian students will take part in 30 projects in Viet Nam ranging from human welfare studies and services to urban design and regional planning.

According to Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Craig Chittick, students from 18 Australian universities will come to learn more about the people and culture of Viet Nam.

They will return to Australia with new friendships and connections that will last a lifetime, as well as new perspectives on Viet Nam.  In addition, this will help to enhance the relations between the 2 countries over the future years, he said.

In 2014, the New Colombo Plan was launched with the participation of 161 Australian students.  The number is 5 times higher 3 years later  to hit 1,539 students who will have experienced Viet Nam by the end of 2018.

The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region.  It is intended to be transformational, deepening Australia’s relationships in the region, both at the individual level and through expanding university, business and other links.

In 2018, a total of more than 13,000 Australian students will take part in New Colombo Plan mobility projects in 35 locations across the Indo-Pacific.  The New Colombo Plan is helping the next generation of Australian leaders learn more about the region by supporting students to study and undertake work placements in the Indo-Pacific.

(Source: VNA/ DA NANG Today)