More than 130 University of Queensland students will take part in short and semester-length programs in the Indo-Pacific region next year.
In the 2016 competitive funding round of the , Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» received more than $470,000 for exchanges with Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Nepal, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
, ’s tourism cluster leader, said the funding would enable 10 students to take part in an Asian Hospitality Management course next year at the and at Mahidol University International College in Thailand.
“Students will be exposed to teaching hotels, training restaurants and internship opportunities at partner universities, which will complement Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»’s management-orientated education,” Dr Ritchie said.
“Due to the growth of Asia’s tourism and hospitality industries and the increase in Asian visitors to Australia, it’s vital that our students have cultural awareness and knowledge of Asian hospitality and hotel management practices.
"This funding will encourage Australian tourism and hospitality students to spend time in Asia and increase their networks in the region, creating an employability advantage.”
Other Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» projects that secured funding in this round include India Reporter, an intensive journalism course giving students on-the-ground reporting experience, and the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Nepal Design Challenge, an engineering project delivered in partnership with .
has offered pro bono support for the delivery of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Nepal Design Challenge, which will build on work Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» engineering students completed during the 2014 Engineers Without Borders Design Challenge.
from Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»’s said students would be based in the Kathmandu Valley and immersed in the local culture, helping them to better understand the context of their work.
“This program uses humanitarian design and the creation of appropriate technologies to engage with students, community workers and the technical sectors,” Professor Lant said.
Dr Jessica Gallagher, head of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Global Engagement Office, said the funding would strengthen Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»’s global partnerships.
“It will enable a larger number of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» students to gain valuable academic and professional experiences in Australia’s neighbouring countries,” Dr Gallagher said.
“Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» is committed to developing a strategic network of international partners that can support increased study and work opportunities for students.
“In the first two years of the New Colombo Plan program, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» students have received grants for exchange and short-term programs in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
“By providing access to rewarding international mobility experiences through working with global partners, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» aims to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes, sharpen students’ skills, make them more employable, and shape future global leaders.”
Media: Dr Jessica Gallagher, j.gallagher@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 7869 or Melanie Martin, melanie.martin@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3346 0665
