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Two high-achieving science students from The University of Western Australia have been awarded prestigious scholarships under the Federal Government's New Colombo Plan Pilot Program - a program that aims to improve knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia.

As part of their scholarship, Eliot Courtney and Anton Lucanus will spend a semester abroad in an Indo Pacific country of their choice - Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong or Japan - where they will study the local language as well as participate in an internship or mentorship opportunity in their host country.

Eliot, of Claremont, who has just completed an internship with Google Tokyo, plans to travel to Japan where he will study a semester of units, including Japanese language, at Kobe University during the second half of the year.

Anton, from Bassendean, will strengthen his understanding of Indonesia by undertaking a semester of Indonesian language studies at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, in the second half of 2014.  He will also study health and development topics and plans to volunteer with Austraining International in social development and healthcare initiatives.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Johnson congratulated the Bachelor of Science students on their achievement.

"Eliot and Anton have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership in the local community and a desire to increase their cultural awareness in the Indo-Pacific region and we are proud to have them represent UWA internationally," Professor Johnson said.

The New Colombo Plan has two key elements: a mobility program that supports Australian undergraduates to undertake study or internship/mentorship in the Indo Pacific region; and the scholarship program, which is the award Eliot and Anton received.  Earlier this year, UWA was successful in receiving mobility grants for Singapore and Hong Kong as part of the New Colombo Plan Mobility Program.

Media references

Michelle Kelly (UWA International Centre)  (+61 8) 6488 3134
David Stacey (UWA Media Manager)  (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716