The University of Queensland’s new scholarship opportunity for Japanese young people was announced during the unveiling of a memorial beach in Japan this week.
Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls attended the official unveiling of White Beach at Shirakobato Water Park on Monday (16 July 2012).
The aquatic park is in the Saitama prefecture, the sister-state of Queensland and attracts more than 10,000 visitors a day.
At the opening, Mr Nicholls took the opportunity to announce UQ's Go Global Scholarship.
“This exciting scholarship marks the birth of a new education partnership between Saitama and Queensland,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Japanese students are instrumental in broadening Queensland's cultural and business ties with Asia.”
The scholarship offers a Saitama student a semester program at UQ’s Institute of Continuing & TESOL Education (ICTE-UQ) in Brisbane.
ICTE-UQ Deputy Director David Nelson said many Japanese companies were looking to internationalise their operations, but they did not necessarily have the people with the appropriate language, cross-cultural skills and global experience.
“This creates a human resources development challenge for Japan, which programs like Go Global can help to address,” Mr Nelson said.
ICTE-UQ’s new ‘Go Global’ program combines English language communications training, workplace preparation and a professional internship placement.
“This creates exactly the kind of niche training that will allow savvy graduates to develop the skills and experience they need to unlock the multitude of new career opportunities in Japan’s emerging global economy,” Mr Nelson said.
Mr Nelson said the scholarship recipient could also become an ambassador for UQ’s Go Global Program and Queensland.
Mr Nicholls is in Japan as part of a fortnight-long overseas trade mission to promote Queensland's tourism, resource, construction and agriculture sectors.
Media: David Nelson, ICTE-UQ Deputy Director, (07) 3346 6704 or david.nelson@icte.uq.edu.au and Belinda Berry, (07) 3365 2619 or b.berry2@uq.edu.au
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