The New Colombo Plan: addressing the barriers to scholarship recipients’ contributing to Australia’s public diplomacy goals in China

Australia’s New Colombo Plan (NCP), as a public diplomacy initiative, is about refreshing the nation’s brand by providing imagery of a modern, innovative and secure country that is ready and willing to lead and do business. The Chinese Communist Party continues to report that Australia is a mouthpiece for the U.S. and the Australian Prime Minister’s attack against China’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak has increased tensions. This article investigates the research question: What barriers need to be addressed to maximise the New Colombo Plan alumni’s contribution to Australia’s public diplomacy in China? Recommendations to practitioners are offered, including the need for higher language skills and increased collaboration between the NCP and the Australian Studies Centres. The findings support current studies tracking alumni stories to combat inevitable criticism of funding domestic students to study abroad. Future success requires, the continued high-profile support by the Foreign Minister. Interviewees reported that the NCP has received positive comments in-country but measurable outcomes will be slow in coming. Addressing the barriers to achieving the program’s objectives is a way to address any criticism of using funding to support international education as public diplomacy as the implications of defunding such programs could be much worse.