University of Melbourne announces New Colombo Plan Scholars

New Columbo
(top L-R, bottom L-R): Lola Schuele, Lorraine Luo, Lauren McKenzie, Jessica Yang, Alice Gaunt.

Five students from the University of Melbourne have been named as New Colombo Plan Scholars for 2024, joining a prestigious cohort from around Australia.

The New Colombo Plan Scholarships is an initiative of the Australian Government that supports students to study for up to one year and complete internships or mentorships in the Indo-Pacific.

The scheme encourages Australian undergraduate students to engage with our regional neighbours and increase their knowledge of the region.

Scholars were announced at an awards ceremony hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade at Parliament House on 5 December.

The University of Melbourne’s New Colombo Scholars for 2024 are:

  • Alice Gaunt, a Bachelor of Arts student who will travel to the National Taiwanese University in Taiwan. Alice is interested in Taiwan’s leading scholarship in Asian Queer Studies. After her exchange semester, she will intern with the Center for the Study of Sexualities at the National Central University Taoyuan.
  • Lorraine Luo, a Bachelor of Commerce and Diploma in Languages student who will travel to Fudan University in China. Lorraine wishes to better understand Australia-China relations and how our economic relationship affects the wider Chinese community, and after her exchange semester, she will intern with Austrade in Shanghai and Deloitte China.
  • Lauren McKenzie, a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Languages student who will travel to the University of New Caledonia in New Caledonia. During her exchange semester, Laura will study Kanak languages and delve into shared post-colonial themes.
  • Lola Schuele, a Bachelor of Music student who will travel to Doshisha University, Japan. Lola will also play with the Doshisha University Orchestra as a bassoonist during her exchange semester. She will then intern with the music festival Kyotophonie, the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, and the Kyoto City Music Art and Cultural Promoting Foundation.
  • Jessica Yang, a Bachelor of Commerce student who will travel to the University of South Pacific, Vanuatu. She will focus on empowering women through financial literacy in Vanuatu during her exchange semester, and then intern with CARE and CUFA. Jessica has also been named an NCP Fellow for Vanuatu.

University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement) Professor Michael Wesley congratulated the newly announced scholars.

“The University of Melbourne is proud to support our scholars as they embark on their exchanges in Asia and the Pacific,” Professor Wesley said.

“These students exemplify our commitment to fostering global educational experiences and perspectives, and building meaningful connections in the region.”