Swinburne students among Australia’s brightest to receive scholarships
In Summary
- Four Swinburne undergraduates are among 120 Australian Students to receive a New Colombo Plan (NCP) scholarship
- Swinburne undergraduates Bridget Webster, Jainam Sheth, Jake Boudsocq and Caitlin Quinn all received NCP scholarships.
- Scholarships were announced in Canberra last week by foreign minister Julie Bishop
Four Swinburne students are among 120 of Australia’s brightest undergraduates to be awarded scholarships by the federal government.
The prestigious New Colombo Plan (NCP) scholarships are awarded by the Australian Government and provide students with the opportunity to live, study and work in the Indo-Pacific region in 2018.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP and Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, announced this year’s recipients in Canberra last week.
Swinburne undergraduates Bridget Webster, Jainam Sheth, Jake Boudsocq and Caitlin Quinn all received NCP scholarships.
Jake Boudsocq and Caitlin Quinn have both been awarded scholarships to study in Indonesia.
Mr Buodsocq will study Law, International Business and Indonesian Language at Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia, where he travelled on a Swinburne study tour earlier this year.
“I consider Indonesia to be an important study destination,” he says.
“Students have a lot to gain from expanding their academic and cultural repertoires to include an Indonesian literacy and commercial acumen.”
Caitlin Quinn is currently studying a bachelor of Media and communications at Swinburne, and has been awarded a scholarship at the University of Indonesia, and will study Media, Communication and News Room Management.
“I'm still struggling to comprehend how I managed to score such an incredible opportunity,” she says.
“The NCP scholarship means that I can begin to pursue career ambitions earlier in my degree and obtain life experiences that I would otherwise not have.”
Swinburne undergraduate Jake Boudsocq is among 120 Australian students to be awarded the prestigious Colombo scholarship.
Bridget Webster has been awarded a scholarship to study Media and Cultural Studies at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, Japan.
“Japan has culturally been a destination of interest to me for many years,” she says.
“Being awarded the New Colombo Plan scholarship to study and intern in Japan has given me the focus, opportunity and encouragement I need to pursue my long term ambitions.”
Despite only just being awarded the scholarship, Ms Webster believes it already has the potential be a career defining achievement.
“The New Colombo Plan scholarship has already been a career and life-changing experience for me and I haven't even left for Japan yet,” she explains.
“I would recommend applying to absolutely every undergraduate student.”
Jainam Sheth is undertaking a Bachelor of Law and Engineering at Swinburne and has been awarded a scholarship to study engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic.
“This scholarship means that I will have an opportunity to test myself in a foreign region and develop my skills in challenging real-life situations,” says Mr Sheth.
“This unique opportunity of studying, travelling and experiencing life while continuing my academic progress will certainly expand my academic and personal horizons.”
To see the entire list of scholarship recipients, view the New Colombo Plan 2018 Scholarships ceremony booklet.