PETALING JAYA: Australia’s New Colombo Plan (NCP) will expand to offer 500 scholarships annually by 2028 to build a larger cohort of students with stronger Indo-Pacific capabilities.
Launched in 2014, the NCP provides pathways for Australian undergraduate university students to develop their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy through structured learning and internships in the region.
Australian High Commission in Malaysia first secretary Angela Rendall said that Indo-Pacific capability refers to equipping students with a working understanding of the region - including its cultures, economies, languages, and business practices - while Asia literacy focuses on building the skills needed to engage effectively with Asian countries.
Speaking during a media interview at the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 5, she said that Malaysia is one of the most popular destinations for Australian undergraduates under the programme.r
“Driven by Malaysia’s young demographic, evolving workforce and strong demand for educational services, the programme’s relevance continues to grow,” she said.
She added that language training has been strengthened under the NCP, with more students learning Asian languages such as Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin, given that Malaysia is Australia’s 11th largest trading partner.
“These skills will help build enduring relationships and strengthen Australia’s Asian capability,” she said, noting that the programme also supports deeper economic engagement with Malaysia.
In the 2026 round, the NCP has awarded 10 scholarships, 62 semester-length grants, and 56 short-term mobility grants for Australian undergraduates to undertake study, language training and internships in Malaysia.
As of January 2026, more than 56,000 alumni have been supported by the NCP to undertake study, language training, mobility projects, and internships as part of the programme.
