The value of Monash University’s ambitious Australian-first global mobility program has been recognised by the Australian Government with a major funding injection through the New Colombo Plan (NCP).
The Government has allocated more than $2.2 million to enable the Monash Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) program to expand its reach, including 610 new places for students to travel to India in the first year of their studies.
Fully-funded study programs
The GIG allows all first year Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Global Studies students a chance to undertake a fully-funded, short-term study program in Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia and now India.
Monash received a total of almost $3.3 million in the latest round of New Colombo Plan funding announced by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop this month, positioning the University as the single largest recipient of funding by a significant margin.
Minister Bishop, visiting Monash University Malaysia this week noted the value of global mobility programs to Australia's relationship with ASEAN and in particular, Malaysia.
Creating global impact
President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AO said the New Colombo Plan provided invaluable assistance for universities to build international engagement and create global impact.
"Australia’s prosperity in coming years will be defined by how successfully it builds and sustains engagement with other nations, particularly among our closest neighbours in Asia. The New Colombo Plan provides unrivalled support for this endeavour," Professor Gardner said.
"The Global Immersion Guarantee reflects Monash’s aspiration to help solve the great challenges of the age, providing students international experiences that align with the vision and goals of the New Colombo Plan. Our University is immensely grateful for the Government’s support to enable it to do so."
With a focus on society, environment and technology Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Global Studies students will be immersed in the realities of rapid development and meet the urgent needs of global and local employers for graduates adept at working across the Asia Pacific.
Funded projects
A total of 944 places across 13 projects (including the GIG) between January 2019 and June 2022 were funded under the scheme.
Among them are a maternity care program Papua New Guinea which introduces midwifery students to programs of care in PNG, with a focus on local care models that are seeking a reduction in maternal mortality according to UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Monash Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (MADA) students will travel to China for four weeks to learn about healthcare innovation, and spend time researching, designing and prototyping artefacts that reflect the healthcare design briefs provided by local private sector partners.
A semester exchange program with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), one of India’s top-ranked technical institutions, will see students take part in programs themed around Engineering, IT and Architecture.
