The New Colombo Plan

By the end of 2020, almost 10,000 students will have been supported to study and undertake internships in Indonesia, more than any other participating country.

The New Colombo Plan 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 the region.

It encourages a two-way flow of students between Australia and the rest of our region, complementing the thousands of students from the region coming to Australia to study each year.

The New Colombo Plan is intended to be transformational, deepening Australia's relationships in the region, both at the individual level and through expanding university, business and other links.

The Australian Government wants study and work-based experiences in the Indo-Pacific to become a rite of passage for young Australian undergraduate students.

In 2014, the New Colombo Plan began as a pilot supporting 40 scholars and more than 1300 mobility students to study and undertake work placements across four pilot locations, including Indonesia.

Young Australians recognise the importance of understanding one of our most important neighbours and Indonesia has consistently been one of the New Colombo Plan’s most popular host locations.  By the end of 2020, almost 10,000 students will have been supported to study and undertake internships in Indonesia, more than any other participating country.

Students who come to Indonesia have the opportunity to study in universities across the archipelago in disciplines such as public health, business and commercial law, to the study of proboscis monkeys, coastal marine geology and sustainable tourism.  Other projects have included environment studies, science, education, arts and language, urban design, agriculture and engineering.