Thomas Day

I am extremely honoured to receive the prestigious BHP Australia-China Scholarship through the Foundation for Australian Studies in China.

The course I am undertaking as part of the scholarship is the Peking University-UCL MBA. This is a unique program based out of the National School of Development at Peking University, which is one of China's leading Think Tanks and advises government leaders on economic policies.

This program will allow me to build my knowledge and insights into key business and management issues facing people and organisations in today's changing world. It will allow me to develop my leadership and management skills so I am best prepared for the complex, interconnected and constantly evolving global business environment. It will also have a particular focus on how disruption, innovation, and technology is shaping contemporary Chinese business.

I have been connected with China over the past 15 years through study, work, and travel and have had the pleasure of seeing the rapid development of the country first hand. Throughout this time, I have been deeply committed to creating a deeper and more nuanced understanding of modern China in the government and business community. Over the past four years, I have been focussed on building the China capability of the Australian workforce at Asialink Business.

I am deeply grateful for the support of the Foundation for Australian Studies in China and BHP for making this possible. Through this experience, I look forward to continuing to make a positive contribution to the Australia-China bilateral relationship.

Ciara Morris
Area of Interest: Public Administration

Thanks to the BHP Australia China Scholarship, I am currently studying for a Master of International Public Administration at the School of Government of Peking University, Beijing. I am taking classes on Chinese public policy and preparing for a research thesis on the impact of public administration on Australia China relations. I became interested in China and passionate about the bilateral relationship during my undergraduate degree. I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Honours I) from the University of Sydney with majors in Government and International Relations and Chinese Studies. Through the University of Sydney, I had the opportunity to attend language exchange programs to Peking University, Beijing and Fudan University, Shanghai. I also became heavily involved in the Australia China Youth Association (ACYA) executive team on campus and nationally. Studying China and Mandarin in Sydney was a brilliant experience, but studying in-country is an invaluable learning opportunity which simply cannot be replicated in an Australian institution. Studying in China is about more than just classroom learning. In Beijing, I am spoiled for choice of interesting events to attend, and internships and opportunities to apply for. I am contributing to the Peking University English language media team, I have attended the ACYA Australia China Emerging Leaders Summit in Guangzhou, I am making connections with professionals in the Australia China space, and most importantly experiencing daily life in China. My long term career goals are to live and work either in Australia or internationally in the areas of policy development, consulting, and cultural communication. I am thankful to FASIC and to the BHP Australia China Scholarship for making my China experience possible.

Natalie Meyer

Area of interest: Journalism and Communication

I am greatly appreciative of being awarded a BHP FASIC scholarship as I study a master degree in Global Business Journalism. The GBJ program is run as a partnership between the Washington-based International Centre for Journalists, Bloomberg News and Tsinghua University, making it a unique business journalism degree in China.

I commenced this master in 2019 in Beijing with a mixed class of local Chinese and foreign students.

The only way to really understand Chinese culture is to spend time living there; to listen to diverse perspectives and be open to different opinions. Ten years ago, I began studying Mandarin and learning about Chinese society and culture during my undergrad. But moving to Beijing in 2018 gave me an opportunity to translate the theory into daily practice.

The GBJ degree is not only deepening my knowledge of the media landscape in China; it is delving into the details of China economic role in the world. From working on Bloomberg Terminals to being taught by veteran international journalists and eminent Chinese academics, this program provides an amazing opportunity to develop practical journalism skills.

Alongside my studies, I connect with Australian companies, the Australian foreign service and multinational organisations in China.

I am very grateful to the Foundation of Australian Studies in China and BHP for supporting me in developing my experience, knowledge and networks in China. I look forward to paying forward this generosity and doing my part in building stronger Australia-China relations.

Zhang Xuemei
Area of interest: Global Health and Epidemiology

I am really grateful to FASIC for funding my study and research. This provides me a great opportunity to pursue my academic interests in public health in Australia and China. I intend to use the scholarship to polish my research skills and contribute to the Australia-China relationship.

I am studying Public Health in Australia after I worked for two years in the medical industry. How to prevent disease, improve physical and mental health, and increase in lifespan through evaluation, policy and supporting measures attracts my attention all the time. Therefore, I decided to work in the medical and health industry to accumulate experience after I finished the Social Medicine and Health Management study at Soochow University. Work experience in the medical industry provided me an opportunity to deeply understand health-related issues from a new aspect. Currently, I am studying the response of coronavirus in China and Australia. I hope I can develop an effective method to control the pandemic globally. My next research topic is about the shortage of medical human resources in rural and remote areas in Australia and China because. As a key part of the primary care team, medical workers in rural areas are an important health workforce to support the residents first-contact health care. Therefore, I hope I can provide suggestions on solving the shortage of medical human resources in rural and remote areas after further study. After Ph.D. graduation, I intend to work in university to continue my academic and professional interest in public health and to provide professional advice for the government, medical institutions, medical and health industry. As a woman, I hope my experience can also inspire other women to pursue their dreams.

Wuyun Gaowa

Area of interest: Australian Studies cross cultural studies

I am truly grateful to FASIC for this precious opportunity for my study in Australia, which will not only strengthen my professional expertise, but also build up more academic bridges with universities and research institutes in Australia.

My proposed study is a cross-cultural study on the comparison between Australian and Chinese literatures. Writers, intentionally or unintentionally, partly or entirely, involve their cultural dimensions and cultural backgrounds in their writing process, including their language, ethnicity, gender, age, social-economic status, value, belief, etc. Writing in either country is a culturally reflecting process and creates a dynamic cultural outcome. Culture is always one of my academic fascinations, as it has been intertwined with my learning as a minority ethnic student; with my teacher education career in English as a foreign language; with my role as a translator, a culture researcher, as well as a middle-aged mother, daughter and wife; with my experiences in my study and training in North America, North Europe and Southeast Asia. Now my fields of research include translation, cross cultural communication, TESOL, curriculum and teaching, and Australian children literature; none of them can be separated from culture. I hope I can not only make good use of my professional knowledge and cultural experiences in the future comparative studies in both countries, but also bring assets and the Chinese perspective to the academia in Australia. 

David Wu

Area of interest: Economic Policy

It is an honour and a privilege to have been awarded a BHP Australia China Scholarship to support study at the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies at Tsinghua University. Studying at the IUP Chinese Center will enable me to develop top-level professional language proficiency with a specialisation in economic policy alongside talented and ambitious students from a diversity of backgrounds. The support of the Scholarship will also enable me to pursue professional development opportunities alongside my studies. It will enable me to pursue internships in the areas of economics, policy and strategy, and to engage with Australian, Chinese and international organisations in these areas. I am grateful to BHP and FASIC for providing me with this exceptional opportunity to develop my ability to engage with economic policy issues important for the relationship between Australia and China.

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Jan Harrison

Area of interest: International Relations

I am extremely humbled to be have been awarded with the BHP Australia China Scholarship, and especially proud to be recognized alongside other bright scholars. Originally completing a Bachelor of Biomedicine with a major in Neuroscience at the University of Melbourne, I have embarked on a different academic and personal journey that has brought me to China. Over the past months, FASIC, BHP and the Scholarship have, and will, continue to support my current Masters of Law & International Relations degree at Peking University. The grant will assist me in furthering developing my skills and character as a future leader in the Australian-China space, whilst in Beijing. Academically speaking, I am extremely passionate and curious about China public health system as well as its renewable energy systems and development, having conducted preliminary research on these topics during my first semester at Peking University. Additionally, with expenses covered by the Scholarship, I am able to pursue internships and work experiences whilst in China. This is an incredibly privileged position to be in, one that I will use to cultivate valuable career and life skills that will one day formally advance the bilateral relationship between Australia and China. I thoroughly believe this Scholarship, and the support from BHP and FASIC, will play an instrumental role in my endeavours in China. I look forward to being a young ambassador of BHP, FASIC and the greater Australia-China scholastic community.