Scholarships open up Asia-Pacific for Swinburne engineering students

Studying in the Asia-Pacific region, supported by the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship program, was a life-changing experience for Swinburne engineering students Lachlan McCallum-Smith and Claire Demuth.

Drawn to Singapore’s rich culture, highly-reputable education system, and proximity to Australia, Lachlan chose Nanyang Technological University (NTU) for his semester exchange.  

For him, the experience was not just about academics; it was an opportunity to dive deep into Singaporean culture, a world vastly different from his own.  

“I learnt to really appreciate how other people come to solve other problems very differently. Some with academic rigour and some through different forms of communication,” Lachlan said.

Claire also found her semester exchange at the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) full of cultural excitement.

“What took me by surprise was how welcoming and warm everyone was. Teachers would always check in on me and my classmates would always take me out. That had been one of the things I had been worried about – not fitting in,” Claire said.

From navigating cultural differences to engaging in deep conversations with locals, these experiences have profoundly impacted her personal and professional growth.

“I learnt, just because we may do things one way in Australia, it doesn’t mean that it's the best or the right way,” Claire said.  

Their journeys were powered by the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship Program, an initiative by the Australian Government that aims to lift the knowledge of young Australians about the Indo-Pacific area.

"The NCP scholarship enabled me to dive headfirst into these experiences without being limited by financial constraints," Lachlan said.  

Lachlan and Claire’s stories are a testament to the transformative power of international education and the opportunities that lie beyond Australia’s shores.

Applications for the New Colombo Plan Scholarship 2025 are now open. Register for an information session or contact the Swinburne Abroad team for more details.