AsiaBound backs Government’s Asian century vision
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) applauds the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, Senator Chris Evans, for today’s announcement about AsiaBound study grants which will provide additional scholarships and financial assistance for Australian tertiary students to do part of their study in Asia.
“Today’s announcement by Senator Evans of new scholarships to support Australian university and VET students to undertake part of their studies in Asia demonstrates that the government is prepared back the vision it announced in its Australia in the Asian Century White Paper with real policy initiatives and real new investment of an extra $30m over four years,” said Jeannie Rea, National President of NTEU.
Over the next four years the AsiaBound study grants program will provide:
- $1,000 grants for preparatory Asian language studies,
- 3,400 new $2,000 scholarships for university students to study in Asia for up to six months,
- 500 university student $5,000 and 500 VET student scholarships to support semester long student exchange programs,
- an increase in the amount students can borrow through OS-HELP from $1,250 to $7,500 from 2014 and $1,000 loans for Asian language courses.
“The new scholarships and improved OS-HELP arrangements will make it easier and more affordable for up to 10,000 additional Australian students to undertake some of their education overseas, and for this the Government should be congratulated,” Rea said.
“The challenge for the Government now is whether it will commit to the necessary additional public investment which would allow the number of Australian universities in the world’s top 100 to rise from five in 2012 to ten by 2025.”
Media enquiries: Carmel Shute, NTEU Media Officer: 0412 569 356 cshute@nteu.org.au
Media comment: Jeannie Rea, NTEU National President: 0434 609 531 jrea@nteu.org.au
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