Mobility Newsletter July 2022
Director's message
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Adelaide Pope NCP Scholar in Malaysia
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong visits KL
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New Internship Opportunities
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Remote Global Internships - not just a thing of the past!
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IEAA Learning Abroad Forum
Director's message 〰️ Adelaide Pope NCP Scholar in Malaysia 〰️ Foreign Minister Penny Wong visits KL 〰️ New Internship Opportunities 〰️ Remote Global Internships - not just a thing of the past! 〰️ IEAA Learning Abroad Forum
Director’s message
Wow, where did those 6 months go?
The end of June marks the end of our project with Global Victoria for the Study Melbourne Hub which will now be run by the Victorian Government Trade and Investment (VGTI) office in KL, with a focus on future students rather than the current ones we had been commissioned to support.
As challenging as it was trying to implement the Hub under lockdown, we have all learnt so much from this, and as Rebecca Hall reminded me the other day “we made history!” – this had not been attempted before. So we wish our colleagues all the best in moving forward with the project, and look forward to utilizing the Hub ourselves for TGS programs :)
The good news is that Teena Razak will rejoin TGS as the Program Manager, reprising her old role, and the timing could not be better as the work begins to pick up with partners keen to shed themselves of the NCP funds they have been holding for two years. We also hope to appoint the new Internship Manager in the coming month to help cope with the demand for internships as universities and students begin to make plans for travel over summer.
This week we were pleased to welcome the new Foreign Minister Penny Wong to Malaysia, her country of birth. I managed to meet and have a quick chat, asking her about the government’s commitment to outbound mobility, which she advised is high on their agenda. The visit comes hot on the heels of the PM’s visit to Jakarta where he committed to AUD $470million to ASEAN to deepen ties, increase regional security and support trade initiatives with the worlds fastest growing middle-class (out of population of 600million) that are creating ever increasing demand on Australia’s goods and services.
Getting excited about returning home for the IEAA forum, the exchange fairs and the partner meetings - drop me a line if you haven’t made time yet. Lovely to be finally able to get back to something close to normal :)
- Jan
Adelaide Pope NCP Scholar in Malaysia
Malaysia’s celebration of its diversity and unique mélange of tradition and modernity made it a clear choice for my overseas study destination.
I am in my final few months of my semester-long exchange at the Universiti of Malaya (UM), and have been amazed by the range and extent of academic, social, cultural, professional and recreational opportunities Malaysia boasts. I am living on campus at UM, and have really enjoyed meeting both my international and local peers — who have been so warm, helpful, and eager to show off the beauty of Malaysia (which ranges from untouched jungles, pristine beaches, traditional street markets, and the bustling, high-tech metropolis that is Kuala Lumpur).
Overall, my transition to living in Malaysia has been very smooth. English is widely spoken, public transport is very convenient, and the facilities and support available in terms of health, immigration and education has been of the highest standard. I feel very safe in Malaysia, and have enjoyed the relatively lower cost of living that has allowed me to go exploring and tasting my way through the country in my free time. The country is also wonderfully placed in the center of South-East Asia, making short trips to Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, etc., very accessible!
Culturally, Malaysia is a fascinating destination, and one that is very different to Australia. The three main ethnic groups are Chinese, Indian and Malay, and the main religion is Islam. Having this exposure to such new and different customs, ideas and beliefs has really enriched my perspectives about myself and the world around me. This is something I simply could not have gained from a book or a classroom, and I am so pleased that I did not follow the crowd in choosing a more-traditional, less-unique study abroad destination.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong visits KL
The first foreign minister of Asian heritage and the first openly gay Australian federal parliamentarian, Penny Wong, visited her home country Malaysia and attended a networking brunch with the government, business and civil societies in KL.
In her keynote address, the Malaysian descendent Wong spoke to the importance of education and bilateral ties between Australia and Malaysia.
"Wong said that both Malaysia and Australia have built great mutual respect and understanding based on education."
She then reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to building strong bilateral ties with Malaysia through other areas of cooperation that were signed in a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement by both countries last year.
New Internship Opportunities
Requests for interns are coming in thick and fast as word is spreading that students will be returning to travel. Recent new hosts include:
ADPAN - the anti-death penalty NGO (crime and justice/law)
Linfox – (logistics and general business)
Tabah – “pioneers in decarbonization” (sustainability, fintech)
Novem – cybersecurity experts (IT)
Lifeline clothing Malaysia – largest textile recycling in Asia (environmental sustainability, all business disciplines)
Remote Global Internships - not just a thing of the past!
Why are they a necessary option post-pandemic?
RGIs allow a hybridized engagement focusing on human capital to foster Australia-Asia youth connection.
While many young leaders recognize and praise the value of gaining in-country experiences, language skills, and intercultural competencies from on-the-ground, in-person internships and study programs abroad, they also emphasize the need to motivate young people to experience difference, foster regional engagement, explore entrepreneurial opportunities, and grow connections independent of travel and the costs and compromises associated with it.
The Generation Asia Keeping Connected Report says “International education and civic engagement have driven Australia-Asia Pacific youth connectivity during Covid-19." With our flexible and customizable RGIs, we hope to keep it going, with inclusivity and accessibility in mind.
IEAA Learning Abroad Forum
We are really looking forward to the IEAA Learning Abroad Forum to be held in Melbourne on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 August 2022. How wonderful to finally be getting together with everyone after such a long hiatus. We will also participate in the Learning Abroad Exchange Circuit where we can, so please reach out if you would like us to attend or even to just meet with mobility teams or other parts of the university that could use an understanding of how our programs work.
