Rockingham local named 2022 New Colombo Plan Scholar

A young Rockingham resident has been named as one of 2022 New Colombo Plan Scholars.

Murdoch University Creative Media student Tilly Jowle-Gill is among the 120 Australian undergraduate students immersing themselves in cities and regions across the Indo-Pacific in 2022.

The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government, which recognises the academic excellence of students and aims to enhance knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region by supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region.

Ms Jowle-Gill will follow her games art and graphic design passions through to Seoul, South Korea and then on to Nendo Studios in Tokyo.

“I lived in Seoul in 2019 on a working holiday and fell in love with the excitement and freedom of the city. I have always wanted to go back and this scholarship will allow me to intertwine my love for the culture and my passion for art and design,” Ms Jowle-Gill said.

She plans to study at Seoul National University for two semesters and then undertake an internship at Nendo Studios.

“Japan is leading the way in the games and design industry, with companies such as Nintendo. My internship program will provide me with the knowledge, tools and connections needed to build my future career and create a unique rapport between Australia’s and Japan’s creative media field, in the hopes that Australia can continue to expand our games and design industry,” Ms Jowle-Gill said.

Two other Murdoch University students were also named NCP Scholars with Jet-Din Hang studying law in India and China and Ella Ruland analysing the evolution of humpback whale songs in the Cook Islands and French Polynesia.

Murdoch University Interim Vice-Chancellor Jane den Hollander said she commends the students on their successes and commitments to their studies.

“The dedication and passion displayed by these three recipients has enabled them to undertake this remarkable opportunity to learn about new cultures while they study and gain work experience,” Professor den Hollander said.