Kaya, I'm Connor. I'm the 2022 New Colombo Plan Almuni Ambassador
I was a part of the mobility program.
In fact, I took two mobility programs,
which I'm very fortunate for.
My first one was a full semester
mobility program to Hong Kong.
I went to City University in Hong Kong
And for me, that was so unique.
Hong Kong was this mega-city
with tall skyscrapers
and all kinds of cultures.
It was such a unique place to study
and take my degree further.
Then I had my second mobility scholarship
through going to Mongolia, just for a short program.
But even comparing from staying in Hong Kong
to the large mega cities, to Mongolia,
to the nomadic landscapes
of just mountains and gers,
which are like huts in Mongolia, was a big contrast
to my life in Australia.
So they were both different, both unique.
When I came back from Hong Kong,
I definitely grew and changed as a person
where I was a matured person.
The fact that I was able to travel by myself
and just be more of an adult and,
you know, being able
to go traveling by myself in Hong Kong.
I definitely changed the person
and definitely for the better.
I got so much out of the NCP
Mobility Grants Scholarship,
the fact that I was able to do it twice.
So, I thought, if I were to become an ambassador,
I can just tell so many people about this
really cool scholarship,
which not many people know about.
So I became an ambassador pretty much
just to spread the word, to let everyone know
about how you can travel in your degree
and how you can become a better person
and a better global citizen.
The benefits of signing up to a scholarship
like the mobility grant is that
I was able to get my flights covered,
my accommodation covered.
So, you know, the fact
that I signed up for a scholarship is I'm pretty much
given the go, to go to this other country
and to live and play, essentially.
Including just overall support from the scholarship,
I also got support by keeping in touch
with Curtin Go Global.
So I was able to be in touch with them
and let them know how I was going.
I was also being in touch closely with my lecturers,
letting them know what I was doing
and they were giving me some ideas
on how I should do my studies
and keeping them up to date
on all the cool learning experiences
I was getting, doing these interesting planning units, but overseas.
I think one of the also big benefits
I got from the New Colombo Plan,
now working in the professional world,
is getting a large network of different people
in my field and other fields
that we can help each other with our work
and share ideas.
And the amazing thing
about the scholarship
is honestly getting lifelong friends.
I still keep in contact to all my friends
that I met abroad to this day, you know
How students can make the most out of their New Colombo
Plan scholarship is to really
just not be comfortable
Firstly, you're going to sign up
to go to another country,
so you're already ticking that box,
but also to not say no to things
and just explore the country
and do things that you think you'll never do.
I would spend time hanging out with locals,
hang out with local students,
but also other international students
and just doing everything that we could do
to spend time together,
whether it be, you know,
maybe doing a day trip to an island
to go island hopping in Hong Kong
or maybe spending the day to, after class,
just explore the different regions of Hong Kong
and learn together as planners.
If you want to do something and if you want to,
maybe if you're a bit shy
or reserved to ask about the scholarship,
firstly, you can always go on the New Colombo Plan website.
It gives you so many details
on how to apply, some tips on applying.
I think my advice would be
to just show your interest.
You don't have to be the most extroverted
or outgoing person to get the scholarship.
I think you've just got to show that you're interested.
So let your lecturers know that,
"hey, you know, I'm curious about the New Colombo Plan Scholarship.
I want to travel abroad, but I don't know too much."
Your lecturers can guide you.
Also, people at your university,
whether it be a scholarship office
or the Go Global, maybe international offices
at any kind of university,
they'll be able to provide you details
and just tell them
that you're really keen
and that you want to explore
some of these cities
in the Indo-Pacific region.
So, show your interest. Don't be afraid.
Ask questions and always ask for help.
My day to day studying
in Hong Kong
was first waking up in my apartment
in Mong Kok
with my roommates who also studied
urban and regional planning.
I would pretty much start my day
by walking out of my apartment.
I think I was on a very high floor,
maybe the 12th floor, and I would go out,
grab some Hong
Kong bakeries because they're so good
and all the food is delicious.
I would then catch the MPR,
which is the train
there, and go to my university
which is that festival walk station,
if I can remember.
Then what I would do
is I would go to my classes.
A lot of them were urban planning units,
which I also did a unit on Mandarin,
which is really cool.
And then I would go
see my friends
from different places
all around the world.
We would discuss
our difference in our cultures
and then at the same time
would learn
about Hong Kong culture
by being in Hong Kong together.
Whereas my experience in Mongolia,
I was learning about
nomad well,
nomadic ways
from going to nomadism to urbanism.
So spending time in the
capital city of Ulan Bator
to then going into the nomadic regions of
oh, I can't remember the name
but it'll get to me
by going to those nomadic regions
and, you know,
doing things such as going horse riding
or going to the fields or going
hiking to do some research.