Jetting to Japan with NCP scholarship
CQUniversity Bachelor of Education (Secondary) student, Clodagh Semple-Ashlin is proving that mothers really can do it all after earning a prestigious New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship.
The Rockhampton resident is set to study at one of CQU’s Japanese partner universities in 2024, all with her toddler in tow.
Clodagh initially thought that participating in the NCP program was unrealistic for her as a mother of a young child, however after learning about the family-friendly amenities available at overseas universities, she realised there was support available for individuals with family commitments.
"The scholarship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Clodagh said.
“Although it will be challenging studying overseas with a child, there are creche and childcare options that make this an attainable opportunity.”
The NCP scholarship will allow Clodagh to complete as semester of her studies at Kanagawa University where she will have the opportunity to live, study, learn a language and gain work experience in Japan.
The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Australian Government which aims to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting a diverse cohort of Australian undergraduates to live and learn in the Indo-Pacific.
Driven by her aspirations to become an innovative and engaged high school teacher, Clodagh said the scholarship was an opportunity for both her personal and academic growth.
“Education in Japan is highly prioritised and I am eager to experience it firsthand,” Clodagh said.
“I hope to learn skills that will assist with my own teaching and create a bridge for Japanese students visiting or moving to Australia.”
Studying abroad will provide Clodagh with a unique perspective which she said would push her to listen more, experience being in a foreign land and learn a new language surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
She believes this will enhance her ability to understand and connect with students who may have migrated or changed schools.
“I hope to never stop adding to my knowledge and abilities especially when it comes to teaching others,” Clodagh said.
“I am currently learning French, Auslan (northern dialect) and Japanese to assist me to be a more inclusive educator."
While Clodagh said she always had a passion for education, it wasn’t until she discovered CQUniversity’s diverse range of flexible study pathways that she was able to excel.
“With a desire to continue my education as a mature aged student, I completed CQUniversity’s enabling pathway, Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) with a GPA of 7.0,” she said.
“STEPS provides direct entry in a CQU Bachelor’s degree, but I was still unsure of which direction to take until meeting CQU education staff at the Rockhampton Open Day in 2022.
“There I discovered home economics is not just ‘sewing’ and ‘cooking’ but everything in between - the creativity, the community connections, innovation, fashion, design and overall investigating more sustainable ways of living and production.
“As I progressed through the degree, I found myself very interested in the education subjects and intrigued by the research regarding brain development alongside the more creative units.”
Having previously run her own small business sewing children's clothes and accessories, Clodagh said her passion for all things textiles - from dyeing to producing new materials, was only amplified after completing a textiles unit.
She plans to utilise her time in Japan to deepen her knowledge and skills in textiles, bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern applications.
“After learning about the traditional fabric dyeing technique of Shibori, I explored more traditional Japanese textile techniques and was amazed by the history of Sashiko which is a form of functional embroidery.
“As much as I have attempted these techniques through research and local workshops, I would be grateful to learn about them while being submerged in the culture they originate from.”
Once she completes her degree, Clodagh hopes to share this unique international flair with high school's Home Economics and Industrial Technology and Design (ITD) departments across Australia.
“While I am interested in a teaching position locally, I would also love to spend time teaching in some of the remote parts of Australia to experience the diversity within my own country.”
CQUniversity had two other recipients awarded NCP scholarships for 2024 including Amy Mann and Logan Crosby.
