May 13, 2014

First students to visit Hong Kong under New Colombo Plan

UOW education students are set to embark on a one-week research study trip to Hong Kong. 

The first group of Australian students to visit Hong Kong under the New Colombo Plan will set off for a one-week visit from Saturday 17 May. Fifteen students from the School of Education at the University of Wollongong (UOW) will visit the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd).

The UOW undergraduates will participate in a research project with students at HKIEd and will also collaborate with local schools. 

Professor Wilma Vialle from UOW’s School of Education, who is leading the visit, said the program will involve workshops with HKIEd students and research tasks around Hong Kong.

"This one-week program will see the students engage in academic and cultural immersion. Not only will they forge relationships with Hong Kong students; they will also travel around Hong Kong and see what Asia's world city has to offer," Professor Vialle said.

Third-year student Genevieve Vickers said she was excited about this opportunity. 

"I am thrilled to be immersed in an Asian culture that I haven't experienced before and engage in everything it has to offer," she said.

Laura McGarry, who is her third year of a Bachelor of Primary Education degree, said she was looking forward to gaining hands-on research experience, which will compliment the theoretical knowledge she has gained throughout the session.

“These skills will be extremely valuable throughout the remainder of my degree, and definitely in my future studies,” she said.

“Once I graduate [in December 2015], I plan on studying a Masters degree, most likely in Educational Leadership. I would love to pursue overseas teaching opportunities, and have teaching experiences in many diverse contexts. I am passionate about research, so eventually I hope to complete a PhD and have my own research published.”

While in Hong Kong, Ms McGarry’s research project will focus on cultural diversity in education from a teacher's perspective, in particular looking at Australian teachers working overseas.

The Australian Consulate General has also invited the students to attend the New Colombo Plan Hong Kong Launch Event on Thursday 22 May, which coincides with Senator Brett Mason’s visit.

The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney, Steve Barclay, met the students on Wednesday 7 May at UOW. He warmly welcomed the New Colombo Plan, saying that it would raise Hong Kong's profile in Australia and strengthen the educational links between the two places.

"I am very pleased to see more Australian young people going to Hong Kong. It's a great chance for them to learn about Hong Kong," Mr Barclay said.

"Hong Kong is an international city with top-notch English-language universities, which makes the city an ideal destination for Australian students who want the best academic experience that Asia can offer," he added. 

Hong Kong was recently ranked third in the Economist Intelligence Unit's Sea Turtle Index, which ranks cities in terms of overall return on investment for overseas undergraduate education. The index attributed Hong Kong's high ranking to its high academic standards and cosmopolitan qualities. 

Background notes

The Australian Government launched the New Colombo Plan pilot scheme late last year, with the aim of enhancing educational co-operation with Asia-Pacific countries.

Hong Kong was chosen as one of the four pilot destinations for the New Colombo Plan, together with Japan, Indonesia and Singapore.

Under the scheme, more than 700 Australian students will travel to Asia this year with Australian government scholarships and grants.

Media contact: Elise Pitt, Media & PR Officer, University of Wollongong, +61 2 4221 3079, +61 422 959 953 or epitt@uow.edu.au.