Study abroad - Student stories

Study abroad opportunities have recently resumed at Charles Darwin University, with Law and Accounting students exploring Indonesia and the Philippines with the support of New Colombo Plan funding.

Over 20 students took part in the two-week credit-bearing study tours, receiving a grant of $3,000 to contribute to costs associated with tuition and travel.

These groups were the first student cohorts to participate in learning abroad after the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated border closures prevented any mobility for almost three years.

Final year Bachelor of Laws student, Zoe Bolton, travelled to De La Salle University, Manila as part of the tour centred on Human Rights and the Philippines Legal System after expressing her interest in the opportunity presented by the Faculty of Arts and Society.

“Knowing my brother had done a year in exchange in Hong Kong which had granted him language skills that changed his career trajectory, I wanted the opportunity to experience something like that,” Zoe said.

Studying part-time from her home in Adelaide, Zoe relished the opportunity to connect with her like-minded peers from all corners of Australia. Experiencing campus life at De La Salle University was also a highlight, having studied predominantly online.

In addition to the intensive course work, Zoe and her fellow students had the opportunity to explore the local culture. “We got to snorkel and see a coral reef recovering thanks to local fisherfolk, as well as plant mangroves in a nursery to help rebuild the shoreline.”

These experiences were balanced with professional development and networking opportunities, meeting with practicing lawyers and judges from the Philippines who provided insights into the local legal system.

More students will be following in the footsteps of Zoe and her peers in 2023 and beyond, with the support of New Colombo Plan Mobility grants. 

Asked to summarise her Philippines experience in three words, Zoe proved that learning abroad offers more than just an academic education – “Late night karaoke.”  

Students interested in completing part of their CDU program overseas can discover more about the programs and funding available to them by registering for the Learning Abroad Webinar, to be held at 5:30pm ACST on Wednesday 15 March 2023.