The New Colombo Plan (NCP), an initiative by the Australian Government, aims to deepen Australia's engagement with the Indo-Pacific by supporting undergraduates to undertake study, language training, and internships in the region. The initiative offers a prestigious scholarship programme covering up to one year of academic and experiential learning, alongside a flexible mobility programme that supports both short- and long-term opportunities for study, language acquisition, practicums, internships, and research.

This year, the programme made its way to Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) on 6 July 2025, welcoming 12 students from six Australian universities. Representing a range of academic disciplines, the students hailed from the University of Wollongong, the University of Western Australia, Macquarie University, Western Sydney University, Griffith University, and Swinburne University of Technology.

Their journey at UPM began with a guided campus tour led by the dedicated staff of PUTRA International Centre (i-PUTRA). Students were introduced to UPM’s extensive facilities before heading to Ladang 10 at eDU-PARK to explore the university’s efforts in agricultural innovation and sustainability. This was followed by a cultural visit to the Malay Heritage Museum under the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication (Fakulti Bahasa Moden dan Komunikasi, FBMK), where students gained insight into the traditions, history, and rich heritage of the Malay community.

An academic session hosted by the Faculty of Food Science and Technology (Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi Makanan, FSTM) focused on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger, sparking discussion on global food security and nutrition. The students also visited the Malaysian Cocoa Board’s Cocoa Innovation and Technology Centre (CITC) in Nilai to learn about cocoa production, research, and innovation. A subsequent session by FSTM continued the conversation with deeper reflections on global food systems and sustainability challenges.

The following day, students ventured into Malaysia’s natural environment with a field trip to the Sultan Idris Shah Forest Education Centre (SISFEC) in Puchong, where they learned about forest conservation efforts and the importance of environmental responsibility. The programme concluded with a closing ceremony celebrating the students’ participation and engagement. The final part of the visit brought them to Putrajaya, Malaysia’s administrative capital, where they explored its landmarks and governance landscape, marking an end to their time at UPM under the NCP initiative.

Rooted in more than academics, the visit served as a dynamic platform for cultural exchange, academic growth, and the development of future global citizens equipped with the curiosity, insight, and empathy needed to lead in an interconnected world.

Date of Input: 10/07/2025 | Updated: 16/07/2025 | nurulshabila