BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE SOCIETY for the Management of Autism Related Issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei will soon be hosting eight Australian students and two staff from Flinders University for a three-week placement.

According to a press statement issued by the Australian High Commission yesterday, the Australians are from Flinders University’s Disability and Community Inclusion Unit and will be undertaking their placements under the Australian government’s 2015 New Colombo Plan (NCP) grant scheme.

The statement also cited Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop’s announcement that additional students from Flinders University have also received mobility grants to undertake practicum placements in Brunei in 2016.

“This exciting collaboration between Flinders University and SMARTER demonstrates the valuable opportunities for Australian students to deepen their academic and life experiences through study and work placements in Brunei,” the Australian High Commission said.

The NCP is a signature initiative of the Australian government to boost knowledge of the Indo-Pacific by supporting Australian undergraduate students to study and undertake internships in the region.

Mobility projects are open to students from any discipline and range from short-term study tours to semester-based study and internships.

The NCP also includes a scholarship programme which will support around 100 students in 2016.

The Australian government has committed $100 million in new funding over five years to implement the NCP.

The Brunei Times