Boosting people-to-people connections for a stronger Indo-Pacific region
Five Australia Awards Cambodia scholars had the opportunity to meet with Australia’s best thinkers on international affairs at the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) National Conference in Canberra last month. The annual conference brings together academics, think tanks, politicians and Australian public servants to discuss global trends and how Australia’s foreign policy responds to the increasingly volatile environment.
Hong Vorleak, Hun Sinuon, Kuch Phearun, Nang Nakrisakpheak, and Ou Kangvay attended the conference with a group of Australia Awards scholars from other countries, including from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Laos and Myanmar. Besides meeting the other Australia Awards scholars, the Cambodian delegation also met a group of Australian New Colombo Plan scholars.
The New Colombo Plan is a prestigious Australian Government-funded scheme that provides opportunities for Australian undergraduate students to undertake study in 40 participating Indo-Pacific locations, including Cambodia.
One of the scholars, Megan Kaiser, is going to study Society and Culture at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. She also plans to undertake internships with CARE Cambodia and the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association while she is there. Meeting the Cambodian scholars during the conference gave her an opportunity to understand more about the country before going to Cambodia.
One of the Cambodian participants, Ou Kangvay, said
This people-to-people connection was highlighted by the keynote speaker, the Honourable Tim Watts MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, as a necessary factor in building a foundation for stronger cooperation between countries in the Indo-Pacific. He shared his personal experience of how his own participation at conferences often started lifelong friendships and brought benefits to his professional career.
Watts also mentioned two important things about how Australia should engage people in other countries, especially young people. First, he argued that, as a matter of priority, Australia should convey the message that modern Australia is diverse. One in two Australians are born overseas or have a parent who was, and the patterns of migration mean that some of the younger populations are incredibly diverse.
Secondly, young people are more digitally connected than any other generation, so digital literacy is crucial for Australia to engage with young people in the region and globally.
Watts’ point about digital engagement in international affairs inspired Kuch Phearun who is undertaking a Master of Digital Communications degree to find a better way to use digital communications to market Cambodia’s potential to international audiences.
The five scholars were very impressed with the conference and appreciated the opportunity to attend and participate. One scholar shared their feedback, saying
Australia Awards Cambodia supports scholars to participate in conferences and professional networking activities. Scholars are welcome to suggest activities for their professional development that can expand their understanding of Australia and build professional connections with Australians.
Australia Awards
Post graduate learning opportunities for Cambodia’s future leaders
Boosting people-to-people connections for a stronger Indo-Pacific region
Five Australia Awards Cambodia scholars had the opportunity to meet with Australia’s best thinkers on international affairs at the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) National Conference in Canberra last month. The annual conference brings together academics, think tanks, politicians and Australian public servants to discuss global trends and how Australia’s foreign policy responds to the increasingly volatile environment.
Hong Vorleak, Hun Sinuon, Kuch Phearun, Nang Nakrisakpheak, and Ou Kangvay attended the conference with a group of Australia Awards scholars from other countries, including from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Laos and Myanmar. Besides meeting the other Australia Awards scholars, the Cambodian delegation also met a group of Australian New Colombo Plan scholars.
The New Colombo Plan is a prestigious Australian Government-funded scheme that provides opportunities for Australian undergraduate students to undertake study in 40 participating Indo-Pacific locations, including Cambodia.
One of the scholars, Megan Kaiser, is going to study Society and Culture at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. She also plans to undertake internships with CARE Cambodia and the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association while she is there. Meeting the Cambodian scholars during the conference gave her an opportunity to understand more about the country before going to Cambodia.
One of the Cambodian participants, Ou Kangvay, said
This people-to-people connection was highlighted by the keynote speaker, the Honourable Tim Watts MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, as a necessary factor in building a foundation for stronger cooperation between countries in the Indo-Pacific. He shared his personal experience of how his own participation at conferences often started lifelong friendships and brought benefits to his professional career.
Watts also mentioned two important things about how Australia should engage people in other countries, especially young people. First, he argued that, as a matter of priority, Australia should convey the message that modern Australia is diverse. One in two Australians are born overseas or have a parent who was, and the patterns of migration mean that some of the younger populations are incredibly diverse.
Secondly, young people are more digitally connected than any other generation, so digital literacy is crucial for Australia to engage with young people in the region and globally.
Watts’ point about digital engagement in international affairs inspired Kuch Phearun who is undertaking a Master of Digital Communications degree to find a better way to use digital communications to market Cambodia’s potential to international audiences.
The five scholars were very impressed with the conference and appreciated the opportunity to attend and participate. One scholar shared their feedback, saying
Australia Awards Cambodia supports scholars to participate in conferences and professional networking activities. Scholars are welcome to suggest activities for their professional development that can expand their understanding of Australia and build professional connections with Australians.
Australia Awards Cambodia is managed by Tetra Tech International Development, on behalf of the Australian Government.
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