A team from the University of Tasmania has partnered with Westpac Scholars to take a delegation of 50 university students overseas for a week-long leadership development program in Singapore.
The students are recipients of the Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship, which backs Asia capable leadership among a rising generation of Australians by building their skills, confidence and connections in Asia.
Each year the program awards Scholarships to fund undergraduate students for a minimum one semester exchange to universities in China, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. They are encouraged to enhance their experience through volunteer work, language study or an internship.
In partnership with the University of Tasmania, the 2022 Westpac Asian Exchange Scholarship will provide students with a one-week Leadership Residential in Singapore from September 19-23, 2022.
University of Tasmania Head of Social Sciences Professor Nicholas Farrelly said the Residential is designed to foster critical skills development for the rising generation of Asia-capable leaders, building their personal sense of leadership, confidence, and networks.
Professor Farrelly is leading the program alongside Tasmanian Future Students Associate Director Tristanne Scott-Durairajah, Professor of Behavioural Economics Swee-Hoon Chuah, Professor in Cultural and Heritage Tourism Can Seng Ooi and Partnerships Manager Kamal Shahril.
Professor Farrelly said it is centred on fostering cross-cultural competence and an appreciation of Asian societies, politics, economies and long-term geopolitical strategies.
The 2022 leadership program will be the first to be delivered since 2019 when the challenges of the pandemic required the postponement of student exchanges.
“This year we are excited to support 50 emerging Australian leaders to reconnect with Asia, building deep people-to-people connections and understandings of our shared region,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity for our academic team to co-ordinate with a big Australian corporate partner to give students a global leadership opportunity.”
The week-long residential will see University staff leading workshops, panel discussions and conversations with the students and a host of foreign leaders among them Australian High Commissioner to Singapore William Hodgman, Director of the EU Centre in Singapore Dr Yeo Lay Hwee, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner ASEAN Investment NSW Andrew Parker, and Dr Darian McBain, the chief sustainability officer with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
University of Tasmania IT and Business undergraduate Tom Dickinson is one of the students attending the residential this week. Tom is in his fourth year of a combined IT and Business degree with a major in cybersecurity. He is also enrolled in a Diploma of Arts. He said he was keen to explore “fresh perspectives” during the exchange.
Westpac Scholars Trust Acting CEO Amy Lyden said, “Westpac Scholars are next generation leaders united by their generosity of spirit and driven by a desire to shape a better future.
“Whether it is a passion for Asia or technology, our scholarship programs are designed to empower and inspire these young leaders of tomorrow,” she said.
