Two Australian Catholic University students have been awarded New Colombo Plan scholarship to study abroad in 2025.
Katelyn Bartlett (Bachelor of Applied Public Health/Bachelor of Global Studies) and Pascal Samfat (Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Global Studies) are among the 219 Australian university undergraduate students to be offered NCP scholarships for 2025.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced the record high numbers this week, adding that the 2025 scholarships would strengthen Australia's capability in Asian languages.
Katelyn, who is studying at ACU's Melbourne Campus, will put her scholarship grant towards a student exchange program with Sophia University, one of ACU's international university partners in Japan, in Semester 1 of 2025. She will study Economics of Health and Healthcare Policy, Economics of Poverty, Controversies in Globalisation, Global History, and International Relations Theory, all based in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Sophia University, a fellow member of the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU).
"Both public health and global studies help in using a critical lens to consider cultural sensitivity and international collaboration," Katelyn said.
"In the future, I see myself at the heart of humanitarian efforts - coordinating responses and helping to build resilient systems that can uplift communities in times of crisis."
Outside of academic studies, the NCP scholarship funding will support Katelyn's passion for ballroom dance, a hobby that's been "a constant in my life". Katelyn is currently pursuing her Level 0 Assistant DanceSport Instructor qualification.
"I plan to take lessons in Japan not only to maintain these skills but also to explore how ballroom evolves from an Australian context to a Japanese one," she said.
Fellow ACU Melbourne student Pacal will commence a study abroad program at the Royal University of Bhutan from Semester 2 next year, taking on a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Climate Studies.
While at ACU, Pascal has developed a strong passion to address the impacts of climate change, particularly food insecurity, environmental degradation and the increasing occurrences of extreme natural disasters.
"I am ambitious to enrich my knowledge in policy analysis and development regarding Bhutan aims to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in reducing food insecurity, women's empowerment, and climate change mitigation," Pascal, a proud neurodivergent student, said.
He will also learn Bhutan's official language Dzongkha at the Institute of Language and Cultural Studies to better understand the country's unique economic growth measurement, known as the Gross National Happiness (GNH). He aims to complete internships at NGOs that focus on resilience-building strategies and adaptation that guide policy making in Bhutan.
The opportunity to study in Bhutan follows Pascal's previous NCP Mobility Grant to study Japanese Language and International Studies at Toyo University, which he undertook in mid-2024.
"This exchange experience was one of the biggest transitions in my life," Pascal said.
"Being fully independent, I adapted to different perspectives, improved my planning skills and ensured my objectives and priorities were being met. I loved Japan with its advanced technology, shinkansen (bullet trains), cuisine, culture and the people."
ACU Pro Vice-Chancellor Global and Education Pathways Chris Riley said the prestigious scholarships gave students an opportunity to undertake a variety of academic experiences and studies while overseas.
"The NCP scholarships are highly competitive and provide our students with a unique opportunity to broaden their horizons," Mr Riley said.
"The experience of spending time in another country gives them professional and intercultural skills that will stand them in good stead in their future careers.
"The internships they undertake are credited to their degree at ACU, as professional placement or as work-integrated learning, and the experience they gain adds quality and depth to their university journey."
The NCP has supported Australian university students with study in the Indo-Pacific, including Asian language training, for 10 years."
