Two University of Wollongong students have earned substantial scholarships from the federal government to study in Asia next year as part of the New Colombo Plan.
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About 40 students across the country received scholarships of up to $67,000 as part of the push for more student exchanges between Australia and Asia.
Albion Park's Larissa Jenkins, 20, will head to Hong Kong at the start of 2015 to study at the Hong Kong Institute of Education as part of her degree in early childhood education.
During her studies abroad she will undertake work placement at a childcare centre, giving her a greater understanding of different approaches to education in a child's early years.
She hoped the experience would allow her to educate her future students about the world.
"I'll be able to share that with the children so they become accepting of others," she said.
"I know often it's quite difficult to portray an accurate picture of other cultures to children but by actually living in Hong Kong for a period of time I'll be able to teach them more effectively about cultural diversity."
Also receiving a scholarship is Tom Wilkinson, 20, who will spend six months in Singapore at the Nanyang Technological University furthering his engineering studies.
The third-year student, from Kiama, chose Singapore for his exchange because of the high education standards and chance to intern with leading infrastructure firms.
"I think being in a completely different environment, a totally new culture I have to try and get involved with, will be hard and enriching at the same time," he said.
"Obviously it's renowned for having an incredible education system, so it's going to be something that will push me in my academic abilities."