September 3, 2024
Changes for New Colombo Plan student mobility programs
The Australian Government has recently announced important changes to its guidelines for student mobility programs funded by the New Colombo Plan.
Whilst the changes are in line with the New Colombo Plan’s objectives to build a diverse cohort of Australian alumni with deeper Indo-Pacific knowledge, capability and connections, a number of Australian universities will need to make significant adaptations to their mobility programs before the 31 October NCP funding application deadline.
What are the changes?
The key changes are:
- A change to the minimum duration of a project from 14 to 28 continuous days
- Emphasis on in-country language study, internships and placements with partner organisations
According to the new guidelines, priority in selection will be given to projects:
- Whose main focus is for the study of a language, other than English (to create a language stream of mobility students)
- Featuring long-term immersive experiences in the Indo-Pacific (full semester or longer)
- That have been developed in partnership with Indo-Pacific hosts institutions, particularly those that include collaborative research, Pacific engagement and other Australian Government priority areas
These changes will apply for student mobility programs from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026.
How can AVI assist?
AVI has been working with universities to develop meaningful student exchange programs for over 70 years and are well placed to help universities pivot their existing programs to meet the new NCP guidelines.
Meaningful student experiences – As a leader in ethical volunteering, our key priority is to design student experiences that are mutually beneficial for the students and the local communities they visit. AVI does not run ‘off the shelf’ programming – we work closely with our partner organisations to find opportunities for students to contribute to meaningful work.
Network of partner universities/organisations – AVI works with an extensive network of partners in the Indo-Pacific region that have experience hosting Australian volunteers. All our partners have undergone thorough due diligence processes and comply with DFAT’s policies on Modern Slavery, Child Protection, PSEAH and Counter Terrorism.
Experienced student group coordinators – Our highly experienced trip coordinators (both Australian and locally based) have extensive experience facilitating local logistics, incident response and providing pastoral care to students. They are equipped to be the key point of contact for students so university staff do not need to be on the ground for the full 28 days.
For more information, please visit our student programs page or contact studentprograms@avi.org.au to arrange a meeting with our Student Programs Manager.
