The prestigious New Colombo Plan (NCP) is an Australian Government initiative and scholar program that fosters connections in the Indo-Pacific by offering young Australians the chance to study and engage with the region. In addition to receiving up to $50,000 to support their participation in the study abroad program, recipients are given the opportunity to undertake a wide range of career development opportunities, including internships, mentorships and language training.

Macquarie is thrilled to have seven of its undergraduate students named among the elite cohort of New Colombo Scholars for 2023 by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Facilitated by the University’s mobility team, our students received bespoke coaching and support in applying for the highly competitive program.

Macquarie is proud to see our 2023 NCP scholars representing such a diverse range of study disciplines, with majors spanning security studies, law, political economy, and earth and environmental sciences.

Meet our 2023 New Colombo Plan Scholars

• Jackson Bradney, Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy)/Bachelor of Laws, will be traveling to New Caledonia to study law at the University of Nouvelle Calédonie. Jackson will also receive language training in Kanak and French, and undertake an internship with the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Human Rights and Social Development Group in Timor-Leste.

• Nidhi Chowkira, Bachelor of Arts (Political Economy)/Bachelor of Laws, will be going to India to study law at the National Law School of India University in Bengaluru. Nidhi will also be interning with the Centre for Law and Policy Research and Infosys in India, and at the Australian High Commission and international law firms in Malaysia.

• Charlotte Greet, Bachelor of Arts (Political Economy)/Bachelor of Laws, will travel to Vanuatu to study law at the University of the South Pacific (Emalus Campus), in addition to receiving language training in Bislama and Nauruan. Charlotte will also be completing internships with the Vanuatu Women’s Centre and at the Office of Human Rights in Nauru.

• Joseph Lewellyn Mayer, Bachelor of Security Studies/Bachelor of Laws, will study international humanitarian law and anti-human trafficking at the Royal University of Law and Economics in Cambodia, as well as language training in Khmer at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Joseph is set to receive a mentorship from INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau and will undertake internships with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Australian Embassy in Cambodia and Legal Aid of Cambodia.

• Chloe Luzar, Bachelor of Science (Earth and Environmental Sciences)/Bachelor of Laws, is set to travel to Tonga to attend the University of the South Pacific. She will receive language training in Tongan to support her travels and will undertake internships with SPC in its Geoscience, Energy and Maritime Division in Tonga. Chloe will also be going to the Cook Islands for an internship with the National Environmental Service (NES) and to Samoa, where she will intern for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme and receive mentorship from one of its representatives.

• Adinda Peyra, Bachelor of Advanced Science (Earth and Environmental Sciences), will be making her way to Australia’s closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea, to study in Port Moresby at the University of Papua New Guinea. She will be completing internships at the Indonesian Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation and the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior in Japan. Adinda is also set to complete language training in Tok Pisin, Bahasa Indonesia and Japanese.

• Claudia Wijaya, Bachelor of Arts (Political Economy)/Bachelor of Laws, will travel to Indonesia to study international law at Universitas Gadjah Mada, as well as receive training in the country’s official language, Bahasa Indonesia. She will be interning at Mitra Wacana in Yogyakarta, an organisation aimed at supporting justice and gender equality with a particular focus on women’s rights, and at LBH Masyarakat in Jakarta, a free legal aid service for underprivileged and marginalised communities. Claudia is also set to be mentored by Lia Marpaung, Gender, Disability and Social Inclusion Adviser at DFAT’s Indonesia Australia Awards.

The NCP Scholar program is highly competitive, with recipients receiving up to $50,000 for an overseas credited exchange or study abroad program in the Indo-Pacific. Scholars also undertake internships, mentorships, language training and community advocacy while abroad.

Macquarie International’s Macquarie Abroad team was responsible for facilitating the Macquarie applications, with bespoke coaching and support from staff including Anna Amoranto, Matthew Monkhouse, Pauline Le Floch, Peter Hawke, Nicole Brigg, Tanveer Shaheed and Lucas Munoz Alvarez , as well as 2019 NCP scholar and Macquarie ambassador Nick De Bres.

The Macquarie International team is particularly proud of the diversity of our 2021 Scholars – among them are two Muslim students (one of which is the first in her family to attend university) as well as an Indigenous student.

Meet our 2021 New Colombo Plan Scholars

Paul Kaletsis
I’m studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Development Studies and Culture Change with a Bachelor of Laws. As an NCP Scholar I’ll be lucky enough to travel to Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia.

In Vanuatu, I’m planning on doing a four-month exchange in the area of International Law and Environmental Law which I’m very passionate about. I’d like to intern at the Australian High Commission in Vanuatu, the Pacific Community in New Caledonia and also the Pacific Islands Foreign Secretariat in Fiji.

It’s hard to pick just one thing to be excited about but I think it’s the people I’ll meet from across the Pacific region. Anything you do in life is far more enriching when you have people around you to experience it with.

Fatima Idaayen
I’m studying a Bachelor of Psychology and during my scholarship I’ll be travelling to Indonesia, Japan and Hong Kong. I plan to do language training, full-time study, and an internship in Indonesia, as well as in both Japan and Hong Kong.

I’m the first person in my family to attend university and I’ve never left Australia, so going to three very diverse countries will be a new and exciting experience for me

Liam Holt
I’m a fourth year Bachelor of Law and Arts student. As part of the NCP Scholarship, I have a 12-month program planned for Nepal then a two-month internship planned in Fiji. I’ll be doing six months of study at the Kathmandu School of Law as well as six months Nepalese language training.

For my internships I plan to work with the government industries in Nepal and Fiji to increase public sector engagement and involvement in the production of re-usable and sustainable feminine hygiene products. My program will help to reduce menstruation stigma and help close education gaps for women in emerging economies.

I’m really excited to have a full cultural immersion and take in the many sights, sounds and experiences. I’m especially looking forward to my time in Kathmandu – a true cultural and artistic hub of Asia.

Sana Ali
I’m studying a Bachelor of Social Science and Law and I’ll be travelling to Fiji as an NCP Scholar. In Fiji, I’m planning on doing six months of full-time study at the University of the South Pacific focusing on Politics and International Law as well as iTaukei language training. I’m also planning to undertake an internship at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and a mentorship under the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji.

I am looking forward to immersing myself in Fijian culture, meeting new people and gaining valuable insights into foreign affairs within the Asia-Pacific region.

Kyle McIndoe
I’m studying a Bachelor of Psychology and a Bachelor of Law and will be travelling to Cambodia as part of my scholarship.

I’m planning on studying for six months at Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia focussing on criminal law and human rights subjects. I’d also like to do two months language training as well as an internship at the UN Office of Drugs and Crime and an internship at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

I’m excited by how unique this experience will be, it’s something I couldn’t do without the scholarship and I think it will give me a good grounding for my future career.

Vishishta Ramanathan
I’m studying Bachelor of Security Studies and Law. For my program, I will be travelling to Taiwan to study my subjects at the National Taiwan University in Taipei where I’ll be doing Mandarin language training. On top of this, I’ll be undertaking a mentorship at the Australian Office in Taipei and an internship at the Taiwan Centre for Security Studies.

I’m really excited to start my journey in Taiwan through the New Colombo Plan Scholarship, as not only am I learning while abroad, but I’ll actually be doing what I want to do in my career. Also, I’ll be learning, working, travelling Asia, which is so exciting and really a dream experience for any university student.

Ryan Murray
I’m studying a Bachelor of Law and Arts, majoring in Politics. I’ll be travelling to Fiji for study and a mentorship. If all goes to plan, I’ll also be doing an internship in Malaysia with the Asian Football Confederation and then heading to the Solomon Islands for an internship with the Pacific Games Council.

I plan to use sport as a tool to bring people together in my future career, so my application revolved around the power that sport has to bring communities together and break through cultural barriers.

I’m excited to meet new people from different backgrounds and experience the food, who doesn’t love food!

If you know of a great student who would relish the opportunities the NCP Scholarship program brings, visit Macquarie’s NCP information page program or get in touch with mi.exchange@mq.edu.au to find out more about the NCP program and other student mobility funding opportunities.

The Property team carried out a quick and cost-effective renovation to scale-up MI’s Virtual Open Day events to a whole new level of sophistication, combining live presentations from the MI Global team with crosses to Macquarie academics and rich brand content co-developed by MI and Group Marketing to suit each market.

Presenters work with an ‘election style’ interactive touch screen, allowing them to guide audiences through study and degree options, and explain the new blended teaching mode that enables them to commence study in their home country while borders remain closed.

“With the border closed this year and for the foreseeable future, MI has found new ways to take the Macquarie story to the world,” says Nicole Brigg, Pro Vice-Chancellor International. “The studio is one of a number of significant innovations. It provides cost-effective, time efficient, and very polished digital capability, allowing us to host a wide range of online events and activities.”

The team’s Virtual Global Open Days have generated more than 17,500 registrations so far from across the University’s key markets: China, India, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand, Brazil, Nigeria, Greater Africa, Indonesia, Philippines, Mongolia and South Korea, and Nepal.

The Virtual Open Days for India, Sri-Lanka, Hong Kong and Thailand saw the talented MI Global team and Macquarie academics working together to deliver Bloomberg-standard reporting.

“It’s amazing to present the University like a TV anchor,” says Zarana Shah, MI’s Senior Country Manager for South Asia. “Supported by this technology and a professional team – it’s a level of innovation that really differentiates us from our competitors.”

The feedback from partners and government representatives has been extremely positive, with Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Nicole Brigg even receiving praise that Macquarie’s digital marketing was the most sophisticated among Australian universities recruiting internationally.

With COVID-19 travel restrictions putting a halt to much of the University’s usual international engagement activities, there is one group of Macquarie staff that have become even more critical to our operations – Macquarie International’s network of offshore staff.

Based in key regions around the world, this highly skilled team not only drives exceptional international recruitment outcomes for the University, but also undertakes strategic engagement with institutional partners, government, alumni and industry.

“Despite facing their own local COVID restrictions, our offshore team have really stepped up through the pandemic to ensure Macquarie stays engaged with our global stakeholders and maintains direct contact with students, parents and key partners,” says David Harrison, Executive Director of International. “Their work ensures we’re well placed to strongly bounce back international student numbers when border restrictions return to normal.” 

Lea-Anne Allen is our Regional Director for North America and is based in Los Angeles.  We spoke to her about the challenges of working in one of the world’s biggest COVID hotspots and how students there are feeling about studying overseas.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
Telling young Americans that they can study in one of the most beautiful (and safest) cities in the world for a fraction of the cost of studying in the state next door never gets old. The price of education in the US (and the student debt that goes with it) makes Australian education an incredibly affordable and attractive option for them.

I am also a firm believer in the benefits of studying overseas (I’ve personally studied in five countries and counting!) so I feel grateful to be able to assist US and Canadian students to navigate their way to these opportunities.

How is the COVID-19 situation where you are? How has it impacted your life and work?
It’s fair to say things are far from ‘normal’ here. Life in California is all but locked down again and masks are mandatory the moment you step out of your house. Businesses (for the most part) can only be open if they can conduct business outside, so it isn’t uncommon to see people getting their haircut or nails painted in the street!

All my work-related travel was cancelled on 10 March and most events went virtual. It’s now an interesting challenge to navigate Zoom-fatigue that students are feeling while getting a constructive message out to prospective students when you cannot meet face-to-face.

What are international students there telling you? How has COVID impacted their view of studying overseas?
Combining the USA’s pandemic response (or lack thereof) and the current political situation here, we are seeing a big increase in enquiries and applications. Students and families have seen how Australia has responded to the pandemic and this has made it an even more attractive destination for study.

Macquarie staff have had to adjust to working remotely, but our offshore staff have been doing it well for years. What’s your best tip for staying connected to your team when you’re so far away?WhatsApp has been a great way to connect with colleagues in Macquarie International on a social level and Microsoft teams has proven to be so helpful with staying in touch more often without clogging each other’s inboxes. 

What are you most looking forward to doing when travel restrictions are lifted?
Getting all the international students to Sydney!

 Held every two years, the event seeks to strengthen the connection between Macquarie and those ‘on the ground’ around the world who come face to face with potential students.

This year’s Macquarie familiarisation program was themed ‘You to the Power of Us – Partnering for Success’ and brought together our most valued education agents and partners from all over the world and passionate professional and academic staff from the University.

A dynamic program of activities ensured attendees left excited with a passion for all things Macquarie – achieved through a lot of planning and late nights and practically no PowerPoint slides!

Highlights included a welcome address from Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton, multiple networking events with University academics and Macquarie International staff, as well as a range of faculty visits, demonstration classes and workshops. A key focus was placed on Macquarie’s transformed curriculum including new admission entry points, double degrees and courses.

Delegates learned about our campus development plans while exploring the campus, visiting student accommodation and facilities such as the Incubator, the Library and media and production facilities at the Faculty of Arts.

Sessions rated very highly by participants included a masterclass on design thinking to showcase Macquarie Business School’s outstanding teaching methods, and a tower building engineering challenge where attendees got to see how project-based learning benefits our engineering students. Other highlights included interactive panels with passionate staff from Student Support Services and several lively sessions with international students talking about their life in Australia and their decision to study at Macquarie.

Corporate partner Cochlear also generously hosted the delegates, which provided an ideal showcase of how Macquarie is deeply connected with leading employers and industry.

A survey of attendees rated 96 per cent overall satisfaction as excellent and program organisation as 98 per cent excellent with all attendees saying they now feel they know Macquarie much better.

“Our international education agents play an important role in helping us reach prospective international students and their parents,” said David Harrison, Executive Director, International.

“It’s our job to make sure they have a deep understanding of Macquarie’s courses and international offering. Hosting our partners on our wonderful campus really brings the unique Macquarie offering to life.”

This week, we take a look at the staff from MUIC and the Library.

Don’t forget to register for the Awards Ceremony as places are filling up fast.

Learning and Teaching

Mr Daniel Lombardo
Vice-Chancellor’s Learning and Teaching Student Nominated Award

Mr Lombardo explains the biggest challenges he has faced in his career stem from the range of language capabilities of the students, and in making the course content exciting by relating it to everyday life.

“I have overcome these challenges by developing teaching material with several levels of embedded language support, implementing innovative assessment strategies and taking a flipped classroom approach,” he says.

Daniel initiates discussions throughout the classroom regarding the everyday applications of particular concepts taught in class and notes that these discussions are typically initiated at the start of a new topic to excite and engage the students, enhancing their learning of the corresponding content.

“The discussions are also useful as they encourage engagement between international and domestic students, forging friendships and creating an overall comfortable learning environment.”

Daniel also takes a flipped classroom approach. “There are many different techniques I use to engage students and enhance their learning. In general, these techniques are focused around encouraging students to analyse different interpretations of problems, identify the differences between them and understand which interpretation is correct.”

Mr Aleksandar Stefanovic
Vice-Chancellor’s Learning and Teaching Student Nominated Award

Mr Stefanovic explains international students face a number of challenges with regards to acculturation such as culture shock and difficulties with language. Alek has employed numerous strategies to guide students through this difficult initial period.

“An important element is to understand the motivators each student has,” he says. “Motivation is commonly regarded as one of the key factors in successful second language acquisition and it can be either intrinsic or extrinsic. The teacher, and the effectiveness of their communicative style, can be an important aspect in motivating students. Through clear communication, I attempt to ascertain the important intrinsic and extrinsic motivators each individual student has and motivate them accordingly.”

Dr Robyn Westcott
Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Learning Innovation

In 2016, Dr Westcott led a project team in the Learning Skills Unit (LSU) that secured an internal Innovation and Scholarship Program Grant to design and pilot a student-led writing support program: WriteWISE.

“The WriteWISE program was conceived in response to two key concerns,” Robyn explains. “The first was research into the first-year experience, which showed a sizable minority of all students – 38 per cent – find academic standards at university much higher than expected.

“The second was an unmet demand for formative writing feedback amongst Macquarie’s undergraduate students.”

WriteWISE innovates the North American ‘Writing Centre’ tradition – in which academically successful students are recruited and trained to provide writing instruction to their peers – to the Macquarie context by linking personalised writing support to the completion of assignments in nominated 100-level partner units. The program also assists upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students via a ‘drop-in’ service at the Library Info Desk.

“WriteWISE provides a constructive, community-focused environment in which peer-directed conversations that build students’ confidence as academic writers can flourish. The program’s ongoing success affirms our belief that peer-led learning initiatives empower students and peer leaders alike.”

The Foundation and Diploma Direct Entry Program Team lead by Ms Alejandra Vazquez
Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Learning Innovation

In 2017, the English Language Centre (ELC) decided to re-develop its 10-week Foundation Direct Entry (FDE) and Diploma Direct Entry (DDE) curricula.

“As students studying these programs are diverse in their academic and socio-emotional needs and behaviours, the ELC took an innovative approach that enabled the creation of curricula that were outcome-specific as well as aimed at increasing overall student learning, engagement and experience,” says team leader Alejandra. “Emphasis was heavily placed on technology-enhanced environments, task-based learning (TBL) activities or projects, and combined class activities and excursions.”

Alejandra explains the FDE and DDE courses were developed collaboratively by a team comprising senior teachers, management and selected teachers.

“The design was underpinned by the ELC’s established pedagogical framework, adhering to well-researched pedagogical principles of learning as an active process, with the classroom as a community where students learn by collaborating and sharing, and engage in communication that is meaningful and relevant to their lives. The design also embraced principled eclecticism, where tasks drive learning and determine assessment, yet where focus is placed on both meaning and form, and on both implicit and explicit learning.”

Dr Pamela Humphreys
Vice-Chancellor’s Educational Leader Award

Macquarie University International College (MUIC) Foundation and Diploma students require intentional linguistic and/or academic support via transition pedagogies in order to succeed.

Dr Humphreys explains that in the intensive model delivery (IMD) used at MUIC with six, seven-week terms per year, a different approach to curriculum/assessment design and delivery is required.

“This context posed two challenges from a learning and teaching perspective,” she says. “The need for high quality, scaffolded, standardised curricula, designed at the program level to meet the needs of pathway students; and the upskilling of teaching staff to deliver it.

“I therefore made the business and pedagogical case to engage an Academic Language and Learning (ALL) team and Learning Designers for a curriculum overhaul. I gained approval from the DVCA and Associate Deans Teaching and Learning and Quality and Standards to adapt units for our context, and agreed to share any resulting resources with faculty.

“Teaching staff have received indirect professional development (PD) in curriculum and assessment design during this project, plus direct PD from visiting speakers and a festival of learning and teaching.”

Pamela notes that this work has been underpinned by a learning and teaching philosophy and led to a Teaching Excellence Framework.

Celebrate with your colleagues

Don’t forget to register your attendance for the event today!

The Academic Staff Awards will be held on Monday 18 November from 3pm to 5.30pm in the Graduation Hall (14 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Avenue).

Amy is a long-term member of our University community, having completed both a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Ancient Greece, Rome and Late Antiquity) and a Master of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism at Macquarie.  She is currently studying a Graduate Certificate of TESOL (teaching English as a second language).

(1) In a nutshell, my job is to…
Design and facilitate engagement with MUIC and ELC students from day one.

(2) The question I hear most often in my work is…
“Do you stop smiling?” or “Do you ever sleep?”

(3) The thing I find most rewarding in my role is…
Knowing that I have helped students to find their feet at the MUIC and the ELC, as well as in Australia.

(4) The bravest thing I’ve done is…
Sky Diving in Hawaii.

(5) My mother/father always told me…
To be early and give everything 100%.

(6) My guilty pleasure is…
Donuts and Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs.

(7) I’m scared of…
Horses (they’re definitely plotting to take over the world).

(8) My hidden talent is…
Being able to decode Egyptian Hieroglyphs.

(9) Something I’ve never done but wanted to try is…
Feed the giraffes at Taronga Zoo.

(10) A moment I’ll always remember is…
My husband calling me his “awfully wedded wife” as part of his wedding vows.

Most staff know that Macquarie International (MI) manage the recruitment and admission of international students to the University.

But you might not realise that they also have a huge range of other responsibilities, including global engagement and business development, student mobility, academic programs and pathways development, alumni relations and international government relations.

All of this globally focused work means MI staff often spend more time in hotels and airplanes than they do at home. We followed David Harrison, MI’s International Director, on his recent trips through six countries.

Competition for international students is fierce, yet of the 23,000+ universities in the world there are very few that are more successful than Macquarie in attracting international students and developing meaningful relationships with international partners. While this makes us very proud, we are always kept on our toes – international volatility is a constant risk.

There are dozens and dozens of trips organised and attended by the MI team each year and managing our international relationships is complex work ­– spanning four continents and 17 offshore team members operating in six different time zones.

Being away from family for extended periods is a reality of the job, as is the stress of managing our workloads while travelling. International trips involve a lot of moving around and very long days.

While it’s definitely not for the faint hearted, it’s incredibly rewarding work. It’s a real privilege to represent Macquarie University overseas and work alongside such talented and committed colleagues.

We often travel with representatives from the faculties and we develop wonderful relationships with these colleagues while on the road. I’m always impressed by the passion of our academics and their willingness to engage and listen to what the world outside Macquarie tells us.

Pitching in: Catriona Lavermicocca and Richard de Grijs (pictured with a locally supplied MacWarrior!) are among the academics who gave up their Easter holidays to take part in the University’s China roadshow.

Here’s a few highlights from my recent trips:

Mexico

Our high-profile event in Mexico City was brilliantly organised by our Regional Manager Amy Celorio – as a former Macquarie international student herself, Amy makes a wonderful ambassador.  We welcomed the Australian Ambassador to Mexico, Mexican government officials, chambers of commerce and Macquarie alumni to award joint scholarships to four incredible Mexican students who will join Macquarie next semester.

It was awesome to see the Ambassador wearing his Macquarie tie – always on brand! This type of long-term, multi-layered engagement is so important ­– universities that just ‘recruit’ without genuinely engaging rarely succeed.

Ambassadors on-brand: The Australian Ambassador to Mexico David Engel (front row, centre) and David sport Macquarie ties for the University’s high-profile event in Mexico City.

USA 

After Mexico was North America, for an annual conference with our institutional partners to discuss student mobility. Our team have organised for more than 1000 Macquarie students to study overseas in 2019 – for many of our students it will be a life changing experience. We are not just about bringing the world to Macquarie; we also take Macquarie to the world.

The subcontinent

A whirlwind week through Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan to continue supporting our brand and reputation work and get these rapidly growing markets excited about the new courses coming in 2020.

Macquarie’s regional teams have done a great job in achieving significant market share in South Asia. But we are constantly looking for ways to differentiate, and appearing on a Bangladeshi TV talk show was a memorable highlight. Makeup was liberally applied to the three of us and we were still buzzing several hours later after chatting to viewers about studying in Australia and life at Macquarie.

Lights, camera, action: David is joined by MI’s Regional Director, South Asia and Middle East, Tanveer Shaheed (right) and Riasat Hussain (left), Country Manager, South Asia and Middle East, on Bangladeshi TV.

China

Our flagship two-week faculty roadshow, with a multi-faculty and international team delivering four Macquarie Open Day events, seven agent workshops, 30 high school and university visits and more than 40 guest lectures and demonstration classes. This trip alone we reached over 3000 students and parents.

I am particularly grateful to faculty colleagues for spending their Easter holidays with us on the roadshow – amazingly, they keep coming back every year!

Macquarie International welcomes staff who would like to know more about their work and/or would like to explore opportunities for international engagement