New Colombo Plan (NCP)

The New Colombo plan (NCP) is a signature initiative of the Australian Government – jointly delivered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Education. It supports a new generation of Australians to develop their knowledge and experience of the Indo-Pacific while they are studying as undergraduates in Australian universities. The NCP includes the Scholarships Program which is a prestigious award that supports highly competitive undergraduates to study and gain immersive experiences in 40 destinations across the Indo-Pacific. The Mobility Program funds Australian universities to send groups of students on gain shorter, practical experiences in the region.  

In its first five years, the NCP has supported more than 30,000 Australian undergraduates (NCP Scholars and NCP mobility students) to study in Asia and the Pacific - including Indonesia. By the end of 2018, more than 40 Australian undergraduates will have been awarded NCP Scholarships to Indonesia. And, around 5,000 mobility students will have undertaken mobility projects to Indonesia.

In addition, NCP Scholars can undertake immersive experiences in the form of internships or mentorships with private sector organisations in the region, lasting from 2 weeks to 6 months.

The Australian Government is keenly interested in hearing from private sector organisations willing to host NCP Scholars as interns or mentees– over 240 organisations are registered on the ‘NCP Internship and Mentorship Network’ online portal across the Indo-Pacific.

We invite national, international or multinational private sector organisations to host NCP Scholars in Indonesia to join the network. Applications to join the network are welcomed from businesses or enterprises, peak organisations and business councils, not-for-profit organisations, international NGOs, UN agencies, NGOs, even Indonesian government agencies. Once organisations are registered on the network, NCP Scholars are responsible for contacting organisations directly about their interest in interning with that organisation.

By hosting NCP Scholars, private sector partners in Indonesia will be:
- contributing tangibly to bilateral relations between Indonesia and Australia;
- arming Australian youth to promote positive impressions of your organisation, your company, and Indonesia when they return to Australia;
- establishing relationships with individuals with potential to become future leaders in business, the sciences and engineering, the arts and cultural life back in Australia.
- supporting ties of friendship and professional networks between Australians and Indonesians that last a lifetime.

All students are fully supported by their NCP award.

Requests for further information can be emailed the NCP Secretariat at ncp.business@dfat.gov.au.

For latest developments go to ncpbusiness.dfat.gov.au or follow us on Twitter @NewColomboPlan.

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Deakin University is working with International Internships this summer to facilitate the Deakin Global Leaders Internship Program, a 12-week internship and cultural immersion program for a select group of high-performing students, which will run from Dec-Feb 2015-16.  The program is funded by the Australian Commonwealth Government through the New Colombo Plan (NCP) and is supported by the Indonesia Australia Business Council (IABC).

IABC member organisations are welcome to take part in this program by either hosting a student as an intern or becoming a mentor for one of the students. If you are interested in either of these opportunities, please contact Jack McNaught at International Internships (jack@internationalinternships.com.au) or click here for more information about the program.