More Australian students will head to Vietnam in 2018 to study and undertake work placements under the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan mobility program.

784 students will take part in 30 projects in Vietnam ranging from Human Welfare Studies and Services to Urban Design and Regional Planning as the New Colombo Plan goes from strength-to-strength across the region.

“We look forward to welcoming students from 18 Australian universities to learn more about the people and the culture of Vietnam. They will return to Australia with new friendships and connections that will last a lifetime, as well as new perspectives on Vietnam that will contribute to the relationship between our two countries for decades to come” said Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Craig Chittick.

161 Australian students came to Vietnam in 2014 when the New Colombo Plan started. Three years later the number is five times higher, adding up to 1,539 students who will have experienced Vietnam by the end of 2018.

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“I am very pleased that more and more Vietnamese businesses and organisations are offering internships and mentorships to Australian students. At no cost, they can harness the skills of talented young Australians for specific projects and access graduates and their networks, who may be valuable future employees.” the Ambassador added.

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

In 2018, more than 13,000 Australian students will take part in New Colombo Plan mobility projects in 35 locations across the Indo-Pacific. The New Colombo Plan is helping the next generation of Australian leaders learn more about the region by supporting students to study and undertake work placements in the Indo-Pacific./.

VNF/Dtinews