Case Study presentation: New Colombo Plan - Student Immersion Project Mrs. Helen Angelakis, RCE Greater Western Sydney 11th Global RCE Conference 7-9 December, 2018 Cebu, the Philippines

1. RCE Greater Western Sydne
Helen Angelakis
Sustainability Coordinator
Western Sydney University
December 2018
BOHOL, PHILIPPINES 2018
New Colombo Plan – Student immersion project

2. • The New Colombo Plan Mobility Program provides funding to
Australian universities and consortia to support Australian
undergraduate students to participate in semester-based or
short-term study, internships, mentorships, practicums and
research in 40 host locations across the Indo-Pacific region.
• The New Colombo Plan is intended to be transformational,
deepening Australia's relationships in the region, both at the
individual level and through expanding university, business
and other links.
https://dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/new-colombo-plan/about/Pages/about.aspx

3. • The NCP aims to strengthen relationships in the Asia Pacific
region.
• Using the specialist placement model, this project will
strengthen established partnerships with students working
directly in a culturally immersive capacity.
• NCP program aims to lift knowledge of the Asia-Pacific and to
deepen Australia’s personal and institutional relationships
through engagement of students, universities and other
stakeholder networks.
• The NCP will help the students to develop their work
readiness, while learning first hand sustainable development
in a developing country.

4. Past project
• Bohol
• Manila – Bohol – Cebu
• Lucknow India
Future Projects
• 3 year project: Shangri-La Institute for Sustainable Communities – RCE
Shangri-la (including Panda Volunteering in Chengdu)
• 1 year project Papua New Guinea (with Network Kokoda and Rotary)
• Looking for partnership in Cambodia and Vietnam

5. • Culture
• Languague
• Socio economics
• Sustainable tourism
• Issues challenging growth
• Environmental issues
• Establish networks
• Stakeholders – LGO, NGO,
• internships

6. Student reflections
My internship was exhausting and emotional, but I wouldn’t change a thing. The kids were full of life and energy, the food
program was any eye opener and I have a new found appreciation for teachers.
…………………………………………………Bethany Evans
We visited school kids which was a great reminder of how cheerful little humans can be
…………………………………………………Abbie Chapman
I had the most amazing experience at my internship this week learning about aquaponics and EM microorganisms to
having lunch with Manny and his family.
………………………………………………...Isabell Figatowski

7. Making hygiene
packs for the
school children

8. Tarsier

9. Tarsier

10. Kyera O’Dell
Bachelor of Natural Science (Environment and Health)
San Agustin Presentation - Ecobottles

11. Lianna Parry
Bachelor of Natural Science (Environment and Health)
Tarsier - Tarsier Conservation Park, Bohol

12. Melissa Witham
Bachelor of Natural Science (Environment and Health)
Freedom Island, Manila. Bondi Beach, Sydney Australia

13. Thank you

14. This project will grow an existing university pilot, to provide 20 undergraduate science students with an opportunity to experience and research Philippine culture and the
issues challenging growth and sustainability of the country. By furthering established networks, students will actively engage with a range of stakeholders including local
government and Australian Government (ACIAR funded research). Students will develop a deeper understanding of culture, language and socio economic factors that
affect the environmental sustainability of key tourism areas on the island of Panglao. Students will be exposed to the conflicting priorities of economic growth and
environmental sustainability. By combining prior learning with culturally immersive experiences, students will successfully contribute to local government projects,
addressing these conflicts of interest. Through a week-long internship with local Government, students will gain transferable skills, industry networks and connections to
leverage further opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region as science graduates.
The cross disciplinary, project based design of this project will strengthen student knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region and understanding of Philippine culture through
authentic and immersive learning experiences. Direct learning opportunities, including language training will be provided by the Bohol Island State University with
complimentary socio-cultural engagements including local government and community visits, and tours of research project sites with the Regional Centre of Excellence –
Bohol, fostering authentic development of student understanding of sustainability challenges present in the Indo-Pacific. Participation in a one week internship with
Panglao Island Local Government Unit will further reinforce students’ knowledge and understanding of Philippine culture, society and highlight opportunities for on-going
collaboration.This project will increase student mobility to the region by establishing frameworks for the sustainable growth of student numbers and diversity of courses
based on the networks developed in the pilot. This project aims to double the capacity for student participation from 10 to 20 students and explore opportunities to expand
the offering to students from a wider range of degree programs within the sciences.The proposed schedule is:Week 1: Cultural immersion and language trainingWeek 2:
Study tour of sustainability projects and community sitesWeek 3: Individual student specialist placement
• Applicants should describe how the proposed Mobility Project will increase Student knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region and the Host Location and increase student
mobility to the region and the Host location. Responses should include examples of how this will occur. For example increasing knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region
may take place through direct learning, cultural training, engagement with local social and cultural institutions or direct engagement with local community, business or
academic networks. Increasing Student mobility may occur by increasing the number of Students able to participate, expanding study program types or fields of
study, or providing opportunities for student groups that would not otherwise have the opportunity to undertake a mobility experience.
• Applicants must demonstrate how the proposed Mobility Project establishes or strengthens people-to-people and institutional relationships with the region, through the
engagement of Students, universities, businesses and other stakeholders and how the relationships provide a strategic opportunity for enhanced engagement.
Responses should also outline how the partnership/s will continue and be
This proposal aims to strengthen relationships between WSU, Bohol Island State University (BISU), Regional Centre of Excellence – Bohol (RCE), and Panglao Local
Government Unit (PLGU), first established through the pilot project in 2017. Using the specialist placement model, this project will strengthen established partnerships
with students working directly in a culturally immersive capacity as a group. This is followed by a specialist individual placement. This mobility grant will sustain these
new partnerships by facilitating student interaction with community and industry stakeholders contributing to these Government initiatives.The ongoing sustainability of
this mobility project is evidenced by the program design and integration into WSU assessments. The proposed three week program allows for a sustainable, multiple-
year model where each student has flexibility in their choice of specialist placement. It also allows for flexibility in arrangement between the project leader, BISU, RCE-
Bohol, and PLGU to organise available areas for specialist placement each year.

15. Bohol Island State University
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

16. Sample itinerary
• Orientation and Welcome dinner with partners, site introduction and safety briefing
• Some Private Days
• Bohol Countryside Full-Day Tour
• Site Visits –Schools and Agriculture Sites
• Site Visits – Local Government Offices
• RCE Bohol and Bohol Island State University (BISU)
o Presentations and Site Visits, Bilar Agricultural Campus
o Welcome talk from University at BISU Bilar campus
o Tree planting and tour at BISU Bilar campus
o Lunch break at FTC, BISU (provided by BISU)
o Language and history lecture
• Guided Trekking at Rajah Sikatuna
• Volunteering with local schools, government departments and NGO’s
• Half-Day Volunteer Day with Rotary Panglao
• Official Dinner with Panglao Mayor (hosted by Rotary)