New Colombo Plan

Program 1.5

Not Met Partially Met Met

Deliverables	2013–14	2014–15
Implementation of the New Colombo Plan (NCP) pilot phase in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong in 2014.
Successful design and implementation of the wider rollout of the NCP across the Indian Ocean Asia Pacific region from 2015, informed by robust evaluation of the pilot phase.

Key Performance Indicators	2013–14	2014–15
The KPIs for Program 1.5 reflect the metrics developed for the NCP pilot phase. These indicators are subject to review in 2014 at the conclusion of the pilot phase.
Provision of around 40 scholarships and a mobility grants program that will benefit more than 700 Australian undergraduate students during the pilot phase.
A substantial number of NCP awardees undertake an internship, mentorship or other similar arrangement as part of their NCP experience.
Satisfaction of undergraduate students and universities participating in the NCP.
NCP students, universities and other stakeholders are engaged in public diplomacy, outreach and alumni activities.¹

¹ KPI for 2013–14 did not reference alumni activities.

Overview

In 2014–15, the department demonstrated its ability to lead and deliver on the second year of the Australian Government’s signature foreign policy initiative, the New Colombo Plan (NCP). We continued to implement the pilot phase in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Pilot phase activities led to strengthened links between universities, businesses and government organisations in Australia and the region.

Drawing on the achievements and lessons learned during the pilot phase, the department rolled out the NCP across the Indo–Pacific region to 38 eligible locations from January 2015. While managing the concurrent 2014 and 2015 rounds, we also prepared the way for next year by opening the 2016 NCP Mobility Program for applications.

Through a wide range of domestic and regional outreach activities, we worked with, sought feedback and gained increasing support from the many partners critical to delivering the NCP.

Key facts

Around 1300 Australian undergraduate students are expected to complete mobility projects in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong under the 2014 pilot phase.
By the end of June 2015, all of the 40 students awarded 2014 scholarships had at least begun their programs in one of the four pilot locations, with 19 of these completed.
At least 47 per cent of pilot phase mobility projects included an internship, mentorship, placement, practicum or industry engagement component.
32 host locations across the Indo–Pacific region are receiving students under the 2015 round.
69 scholarships were awarded to Australian undergraduate students for study across 17 locations in the 2015 round.
Some 3150 undergraduate students from 37 Australian universities and five university consortia are undertaking mobility programs in the 2015 round.
38 of Australia’s 41 universities across all Australian states and territories have participated in the first two years of the program.

Key achievements/challenges/results

Pilot phase

The department continued to lead implementation of the pilot phase, which commenced in 2013–14. By the end of June 2015, over 1000 Australian undergraduate students who received pilot phase NCP mobility grants had either completed programs or departed for study in Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Students undertook study and work-based learning opportunities which counted towards their Australian degree, including short and longer-term study and research, internships, clinical placements and practicums. By the end of June 2015, all 40 students awarded 2014 scholarships had begun their programs in one of the four pilot locations, with 19 of these completed.

Feedback on the pilot phase has been extremely positive. Interim research on student experiences found that 97 per cent of pilot phase mobility students and 100 per cent of scholarship recipients surveyed would recommend their NCP program to other students. A similarly high proportion of respondents said that they had had a rewarding program experience and had become more knowledgeable about the Indo–Pacific region as a result.

2015 round

Building on the successes of the pilot phase, the department led the expansion of the NCP in 2015 to incorporate 34 new Indo–Pacific host locations, in addition to the four pilot locations. (See New Colombo Plan 2015 host locations; see also video). With the Department of Education and Training, we developed and released the 2015 program guidelines. The department launched the 2015 round in September 2014, at an event hosted by the Foreign Minister and attended by government, business and university representatives from across Australia and the Indo–Pacific region.

Together with the Department of Education and Training, we assessed 312 mobility applications from Australian universities and shortlisted 224 scholarships applications from Australian undergraduate students for study in the 2015 round. The outcomes saw 69 scholarships awarded to high-performing Australian undergraduate students for study in 17 NCP host locations in 2015. Mobility grants were awarded to support some 3150 students to undertake study and internships across 32 locations between January 2015 and June 2016. By the end of June 2015, more than 350 mobility students and 21 scholars had departed for the region to begin 2015 programs.

2016 round

The department will further expand the NCP in 2016 to offer around 100 scholarships and $20 million in mobility grants. We cooperated with the Department of Education and Training to develop the 2016 program guidelines, which were released in April 2015. The 2016 round encourages longer-term study, language acquisition, private sector engagement and internships. Applications for the 2016 mobility program closed on 5 June 2015. With the Department of Education and Training, we began assessing more than 800 mobility project applications for 2016, with bids totalling more than $34 million.

2014 New Colombo Plan student from Charles Sturt University answers questions from local Indonesian media as part of their Indonesian Agriculture and Veterinary Science project, Cimaung village, Java, 30 August 2014. *[DFAT]*

Staff profile

Caroline Mulas Assistant Director, New Colombo Plan Secretariat, Canberra

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As Assistant Director for Policy and Regional Strategy in the New Colombo Plan Secretariat, I am helping a new generation of Australians engage with our regional neighbourhood, the Indo–Pacific.

I joined the team when the New Colombo Plan commenced in 2014 and it has been rewarding to be part of the program’s exciting expansion. In the first two years alone, the initiative has enabled thousands of young Australians to live, study and intern in over 30 locations in our region.

In 2014–15, I worked with our overseas offices and partner governments to roll out the program in North Asia. I facilitated interview panels comprised of senior business and education representatives to select the best and brightest students to receive 2015 scholarships. I also commenced work on strategies to encourage further Indigenous student participation in the program.

Engagement with universities, business and other stakeholders

To seek feedback on the progress of the pilot phase and prepare for the 2015 and 2016 rounds, the department conducted a series of outreach sessions with Australian universities across all Australian states and territories. We continued to issue regular e-bulletins to Australian universities to inform them about program developments and NCP activities across the region. To facilitate the efficient implementation of the program, with the Department of Education and Training, we conducted webinars with Australian universities about the information technology systems which support the NCP.

The private sector responded enthusiastically to the NCP’s objective to help build a future Australian workforce with the skills and experience needed to boost productivity and innovation and facilitate further economic integration with the region. To build support for internships and mentorships, the department engaged with over 480 private sector organisations in Australia and the region, which resulted in a significant number of work-based learning offerings being made available for students. These opportunities are being incorporated into an online portal facilitated by the department, through which Australian universities, students and the private sector will be able to take forward internship arrangements.

In the first example of a major private sector sponsorship under the NCP, the department is taking forward a partnership with the Bennelong Foundation. Announced by the Foreign Minister in December 2014, the Bennelong Foundation, with the Myer Foundation and Asialink Business, are contributing a combined $885,000 to develop and deliver cross-cultural awareness training to NCP students over the next five years.

The department launched the NCP Twitter presence in May 2015 to communicate with a growing audience. We also raised awareness about the program with stakeholders in Australia and overseas by participating in six domestic and six regional forums and conferences and working with Universities Australia at careers fairs in Australia.

Fostering an engaged and inspired community of NCP alumni that maintain personal and professional ties is an important objective for the program. During the reporting period, a number of alumni were engaged in events in Australia, relevant to their study locations or academic fields of study. We also established, in consultation with NCP students and stakeholders, a framework for an alumni network and progressed planning for its launch.

The New Colombo Plan partnering with the private sector

New Colombo Plan Japan Scholar, Patrick Gan, University of Western Sydney, meets with Mitsui & Co. Ltd official, Masayuki Kinoshita, Tokyo, 8 May 2015. [DFAT]

The private sector is bringing great value to the NCP by supporting interns, mentoring students or otherwise partnering with universities to help develop regionally-aware, work-ready graduates with experience in the region. The program is supporting a new generation of Australians to test their skills and create enduring professional and personal networks.

During 2014–15, the department conducted an intensive outreach campaign in Australia and the region to promote NCP opportunities to the private sector. The NCP and Mentorships Network is facilitating opportunities for students to access rewarding work-integrated learning opportunities made available by private sector organisations. The private sector can also use the network to promote opportunities to students and identify the best talent.

Host locations

The department worked closely with regional governments to advance the NCP in host locations. In 2014–15, the program was formally launched in Cook Islands, India, Kiribati, Tonga and Thailand. We held bilateral discussions with receiving authorities to ensure appropriate mechanisms were in place to receive students. We convened forums in Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia with local authorities, Australian and overseas universities and private sector representatives to facilitate the development of programs and discuss implementation arrangements for students. The department also marked the departure, arrival and return of students to Indo–Pacific locations. Australia’s representatives in a range of locations held events to welcome and engage with NCP students.

Reference Group

The NCP Reference Group continued to provide high-level advice on the rollout of the program. Over two meetings hosted by the department and through other events, the group provided advice on the policy settings for the program in 2016 and 2017 and the Government’s proposed approach to alumni, private sector engagement and promotion of the program.

Outlook

As the program gains further momentum, we will continue to reflect on lessons learned to date to inform future growth. In 2015–16, the outcomes of the 2016 NCP round will be announced and students will begin departing on scholarships and mobility projects from January 2016. Implementation of the 2015 round will continue until August 2016 and any remaining pilot phase students on location will complete their programs.

The department will take forward a range of initiatives to cooperate with the private sector, including hosting the NCP Internships and Mentorships Network online portal, expanding the Mobility Partners program and working with Business Champions to promote the program among the private sector. Other priorities will include finalising strategies for engagement with alumni, the schools sector and members of Parliament; continuing to launch the program in locations across the region; opening the 2017 round for applications; and preparing for a further significant scale-up of the program in 2018.