27 November 2018
A trio of UniSA’s top students – Joel Ransley, Jack Donaldson and Joshua Bernardi – have each been awarded a prestigious New Colombo Plan scholarship, and will travel to the Indo-Pacific in 2019 to undertake further study and learn more about the region’s culture, people and business practices.
Officially announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, at last night’s presentation ceremony in Canberra, the trio were thrilled to be included among the elite group of scholarship recipients.
UniSA student, Joel Ransley, will head to Japan in January next year, to study with the Shibaura Institute of Technology in Tokyo. A Bachelor of Architectural Studies, he hopes to secure an internship with an architectural firm involved in the 2020 Olympics to explore how buildings can be repurposed for the local community after an Olympics. A member of the Australia Japan Association, and a seasoned traveller to Japan, Joel says he is looking forward to fine tuning his knowledge of Japanese culture and language.
“I’ve always had a love of Japan and I’m passionate about Japanese language,” Joel says.
“This scholarship will not only help extend my language skills but also expose me to a whole range of new opportunities in business and study, and I can’t wait to get started.”
The New Colombo Plan (NCP) is a signature initiative of the Australian Government which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in one of 40 countries in the region.
The highly competitive scholarships are awarded to Australia’s best and brightest students who demonstrate adaptability, resilience, and leadership in the community, as well as understanding the importance of deepening Australia’s relationships in the region.
UniSA Bachelor of Business (Management) student, Jack Donaldson, was awarded a Fellow under the NCP scholarship program, making him the highest ranked person among all the scholars travelling to South Korea. Jack will spend a semester with UniSA’s exchange partner Sogang Uni, before seeking an internship within the Korean shipbuilding sector. And when he is back, Jack hopes to direct his passion and skills in complex project management, to the defence or construction industries.
UniSA Bachelor of Design (Product Design) student, Joshua Bernardi, will be undertaking the second semester of his honours year at UniSA’s partner Tianjin University in 2019. With previous experience working with design firms, Joshua says he is hoping to better understand how new and sustainable modes of transport fit into future urban environments.
UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd says the NCP scholarships are a wonderful opportunity for students to gain experience and knowledge of one of the fastest growing and most exciting regions in the world.
“It’s fantastic to see our students take such an enterprising approach to their education by putting their hats in the ring for the New Colombo Plan’s scholarship program,” Prof Lloyd says.
“These experiences will give them an invaluable sense of international business, broaden their connections and give them cultural insights into Australia’s neighbouring countries.
“This is a fantastic opportunity and I congratulate Joel, Jack and Josh on their scholarship wins. We look forward to following their journey in the coming year, hearing about their successes and benefitting from their experience.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Media: Annabel Mansfield office (08) 8302 0351 | mobile:0417 717 504
email: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au
