University of Queensland students recently embarked on a transformative educational journey to China as part of the prestigious New Colombo Plan.
The two-week trip – from Chengdu to Ya’an in China’s Sichuan province – offered an intensive blend of classroom learning, practical workshops, industry site visits, and cultural immersions, focused on China's agricultural sector and rich cultural heritage.
This trip was facilitated by our partner university, Sichuan Agricultural University (SAU), and the students benefitted enormously from learning alongside undergraduate students from SAU.
Third-year UQ Bachelor of Biotechnology student Jessie Erickson said the trip had a profound impact on their academic and personal development.
“It was fantastic to gain an understanding of the general agricultural industry through in-class lectures, workshops and site visits,” they said.
“This included visits to the agricultural museum expo and a more in-depth look at products and systems – like lipstick and tea cosmetics, for example.
“We also saw the oldest and largest irrigation project in the world, to the use of every aspect of a plant and animal to minimise waste, and the graphing technique of genetically identical baby blueberries.
“And obviously – I can’t leave out the pandas – the trip to the panda sanctuary was adorable and very educational as we learnt about the political aspects of our studies.
“I knew since before I even applied for university that I wanted my degree to take me overseas, and I hope to one day work alongside a multicultural team to aid in agriculture and wildlife conservation all over the world.”
UQ team member Eliza Cooke, responsible for managing the administrative aspects of the project, helped the students make their most out of the time abroad.
“This program is incredibly important, equipping students with skills and adaptability beyond what can be taught in a classroom,” she said.
“In our globalised world, young people should seek to challenge their perceptions and develop cross-cultural understanding – having a a more well-rounded education, allowing them to work with an empathy for people with backgrounds similar and dissimilar to their own.
“The New Colombo Plan is an intensive program and it may challenge your views and resilience, making it all the more rewarding.
“It provides amazing opportunities to students and staff alike, and boosts Australians’ cultural understanding of our closest neighbours and partners in trade, education and research.
“This is an incredible opportunity to gain global experiences and develop personally in ways that you can apply in your future study and work.”
More information can be found about the program on the New Colombo Plan Scholarship Program page.
