The AsiaBound program provides enhanced financial support for Australian students to participate in a study experience in Asia.
Swinburne has secured $384,000 funding for 15 projects that will provide more than 130 Swinburne students the opportunity to study in Asia.
“Student mobility is one of the hallmarks of an internationalised Australian university. The AsiaBound program is designed to encourage students to study in the nations in our region and we are delighted that an additional 133 Swinburne students will gain exposure to education, community, business, industry, culture and language in seven Asian countries,” Vice-President (International and Future Students), Jeffrey Smart said.
“The students who benefit from these AsiaBound grants, whether they are going abroad for the first time or not, will come back with new skills, a broader outlook, new networks and a vibrant sense of the incredible diversity, and energy of the countries in our region.”
Funding has been approved for a range of programs including the opportunity for TAFE Building and Construction students from Swinburne’s Croydon campus to participate in social impact study tours to Cambodia and India, and TAFE Children’s Services students at the Wantirna campus to study in Vietnam.
Swinburne’s higher education students will also have the opportunity to participate in exchange programs ranging from the Asia-Pacific Rim Study Tour to Malaysia, Vietnam and China, to semester exchange programs with new partners in Japan and Malaysia.
Mr Smart said Swinburne has a campus in Sarawak, Malaysia, that offers study abroad opportunities for its students and also has partnership arrangements to promote study abroad opportunities with a range of partner universities throughout Asia.
“This is great news for Swinburne Sarawak, as we have secured funding for more students to experience life in the city of Kuching,” Mr Smart said.
“Students participating in the AsiaBound programs will gain credit towards their Swinburne qualification, and our academic staff have worked hard to create challenging and meaningful learning experiences.
“Our university has one of the highest rates of student mobility in Australia, and we have deep experience in developing programs that add value to our students and the communities in which they study.
“Many of the AsiaBound programs are designed to give Swinburne students an opportunity to make a real impact on communities in Cambodia, India, Vietnam, Malaysia and other nations”.
Students participating in AsiaBound projects will be able to undertake short-term study opportunities and experiences including practicums, clinical placements, research trips or volunteer projects for up to 6 months. Students will also able to undertake semester based experiences with exchange partners throughout the region.
In addition to study grants, AsiaBound offers grants for preparatory Asian language study that can be undertaken prior to or concurrently with an approved project.
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