James Cook University archaeology students visited Laos on a research trip to study the Plain of Jars, with funding from the New Colombo Plan.

By Nick Palmisano

Eight JCU College of Arts, Society and Education (CASE) archaeology students returned from a research trip to the Plain of Jars, an ancient site in Laos, with funding from the New Colombo Plan covering their travel costs.

Six of the eight students received grants from the New Colombo mobility grant to assist them with travel and research expenses.

The New Colombo Plan is an initiative from the Liberal Government, an evolution of Labour’s AsiaBound program, which was designed to provide opportunities for Australian tertiary students to visit South East Asia for study and research experience.

The NCP opens up scholarship options for both long and short term exchanges, including mobility grants designed for research trips like the Laos project.

Archaeology major Hollie Gill received $3000 to fund her journey to Laos which was essential for her to take part in the project.

“The grant covered all of my flights as well as some extra costs like part of my accommodation, says Hollie.

“Gaining experience in the field is an essential part of any degree, especially archaeology, and would not have been financially possible for me without this grant.”

Hollie hopes that the Laos project brings more awareness about the situation in Laos, and encourages discussion around its leftover explosives.

“I think archaeological work at the Plain of Jars will assist in developing and promoting tourism within the area, especially if it is eventually declared a World Heritage Site, says Hollie.

“This will hopefully bring funding for more extensive clearing of the UXO for the communities, as well as assisting the rehabilitation programs in place.”

ARTEFACT: Lan Xang Smoking Pipe found at the Plain of Jars

Plain of Jars Site

The Plain of Jars is a grassy plateau in central Laos’ Xieng Khouang province, surrounded by mountains, creating a bowl like valley that was once home to a Bronze Age culture.

This civilization is assumed to be responsible for the creation of hundreds of stone jars of various sizes, some only three feet high, with the larger ones measuring ten feet. Archaeologists don’t yet know their true purpose or origin but there are many theories.

JCU archaeology professor and research trip organizer, Dr Nigel Chang, offers one of the more accepted explanations.

“The jars may have something to do with people burying their dead, or filling them up with crematory remains.

“The problem is the jars were discovered a long time ago by international scientists, and they’ve been known about in the country for a lot longer.

“Most of the jars have been heavily looted and are now missing a lot of artefacts, so they’re a bit of a mystery to work out what they’re for, and we don’t know who the people who made them were,” he said.

During the Vietnam War, the US military dropped more than two million tons of bombs on Laos. Today it is estimated that there are 80 million unexploded bombs still remaining in the country.

Unexploded Ordinance Teams accompanied Nigel, his students, and other researchers, clearing areas of explosives before archaeological work could begin. The process is painstaking, as Nigel says.

“Every area we work has to be cleared one way or another, by people who know what they’re doing so we don’t find unexploded bombs when we’re excavating. We do a lot of traditional surveys, walking across the land very precisely, very carefully, and that becomes much harder to do,” says Nigel.

JCU Student Molly Mahlouzarides attended the World Trade Organization Public Forum in Geneva in September. Back on Australian soil, she said the forum opened up her options for the future.

FIRST SESSION: Molly Mahlouzarides (third from left) with her fellow delegates at the WTO public forum in Geneva

By Molly Mahlouzarides and Stine Pjaaten

The World Trade Organization Public Forum ran over three days, from September 24 to 26 in Switzerland, and was attended by government representatives, non-governmental leaders, businessmen and academics.

“It ran as a series of sessions where there was a panel of various high-level experts discussing selected trade-related topics like intellectual property or the emerging economic powers,” Ms Molly Mahlouzarides said.

The Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Law student said what she particularly enjoyed about the sessions was the interaction between the panelists and audience members.

“Despite being among the youngest at the forum, there were many times that I, or another member of my delegation, was able to pose pertinent and challenging questions to the different panels,” she said.

The delegates also had the chance to personally meet many of the figures they saw speak during the forum.

“The caliber of the people we met was amazing – from the WTO’s Deputy Director General Rufus Yerxa, to the CEO of eBay and members of European Parliament,” she said.

“Having intimate access to such influential people was incredible and Global Voices really made sure we got the most we could from those networking opportunities.”

MEETING THE PANEL: The Global Voices delegates with WTO Deputy Director-General Rufus Yerxa

Ms Mahlouzarides said one the highlights of the trip to Europe was their private meeting with the Deputy Director-General of the WTO, Rufus Yerxa.

“He had such a sharp intellect and wit, and he was so warm towards us,” she said.

In preparation for the trip, the seven delegates each wrote a research paper on a chosen topic. Ms Mahlozarides wrote about the plain packaging legislation regulating tabacco sales in Australia.

Her paper has been published by Global Voices since the forum. She said she had the opportunity to discuss her research with Mr Rufus Yerxa.

“It was great to talk to him one-on-one about my research on Australia’s plain packaging dispute. He seemed genuinely interested in the case and valued my perspective as a young Australian,” she said.

Ms Mahlouzarides said she gained a lot from the experiences in Geneva, and her insight into the unfamiliar fields of trade and economics ignited some new areas of interest.

“My existing knowledge of international relations has really been put into context by seeing leaders of different governments interact in person,” she said.

“I have already enjoyed sharing my newfound knowledge with my fellow politics students upon my return and they seemed to really engage.”

The forum showed the young delegates how Australia is represented in different areas and industries on a global scale.

Ms Mahlouzarides said it was encouraging to meet the diplomats who work within Australia’s Permanent Mission to the WTO.

“The forum has exposed me to possible career goals and opportunities,” she said.

Ms Mahlozarides said her time in Geneva was the best week of her life.

She said it really showed global opportunities are available to Australian students, even those studying at regional universities like JCU.

“The fact I was able to access such an incredible opportunity is a credit to the ongoing partnership between Global Voices and JCU,” she said.

“Global Voices is a team full of passionate and motivated young people and I look forward to seeing the great things our partnership with them brings in the future.”

JCU student Molly Mahlouzarides will attend the World Trade Organisation Public Forum in Switzerland from September 22-30, taking her diplomacy skills worldwide. 

RUBBING SHOULDERS: Molly Mahlouzarides (third from right) with Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and other Australian delegates

By Molly Mahlouzarides and Stine Pjaaten

Not only will the journey be 20-year-old Molly Mahlouzarides’ first taste of real international diplomacy, but it will also be her first chance to travel overseas.

Ms Mahlouzarides was chosen from over 100 applicants to be a part of the Global Voices World Trade Organisation (WTO) Australian Youth Delegation.

Selected as the JCU representative, she was flown to Canberra to meet Australia’s leaders on August 23-24.

The experience, sponsored by non-profit organisation Global Voices, allows young Australians to participate in international diplomacy.

The delegation members will undertake a research fellowship before travelling to the WTO Public Forum in Geneva with six students from different Australian universities.

Fascination for international politics

Ms Mahlouzarides is a third-year Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Politics and International Relations.

She said her politics lecturers at JCU encouraged her to go for the Global Voices opportunity.

“I was also inspired by my close friend Alice Baldwin, an alumnus of Global Voices, who attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Hawaii last year,” Ms Mahlouzarides said.

“Having heard about her own exciting experiences firsthand, I couldn’t resist applying myself.”

Ms Mahlouzarides has been fascinated by international politics from a young age.

“My interest in international politics actually began at JCU back when I was a high school student at St Margaret Mary’s College, after participating in the university’s Young Diplomats Program in 2007,” she said.

I can’t believe that I now have the chance to see this kind of diplomacy, and I have no doubt the delegation will foster my continuing passion for politics,” she said.

Meeting ministers in Canberra

The first step of being part of the delegation involved travelling to Canberra in August for a two-day pre-departure briefing, where Ms Mahlouzarides had the chance to meet with ministers and diplomatic representatives.

MEETING MINISTERS: Molly Mahlouzarides with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott

“Over a couple of days, I got to discuss significant issues in sessions with Trade Minister Craig Emerson, Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, former Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd, Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr, our local member for Herbert, Ewen Jones, Swiss Ambassador Marcel Stutz and leading policy advisers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT),” she said.

“It was incredible to meet each of these impressive people, to shake their hand and have them engage in such a meaningful dialogue about the issues we all share a passion for.

“Their time and support was absolutely invaluable.”

An amazing opportunity

The next phase of the experience for Ms Mahlouzarides will be to produce a research paper under the guidance ofGlobal Voices and JCU before travelling to the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.

The WTO is the only global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations and is run by WTO’s member governments. Its goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters and importers conduct their business.

Ms Mahlouzarides said once in Geneva she will benefit from the expertise of governmental figures, non-government organisations, academics and businesses participating in the forum.

“Needless to say, I am very excited about being a part of this delegation, which is an amazing opportunity for any Australian student, let alone for someone from a small regional university,” she said.

“I can only imagine what prospects the delegation will hold for my own career, and for those like me who are fortunate enough to participate in the future.

“I would hope that my involvement in the delegation convinces my peers that such global opportunities are within reach, even for geographically isolated North Queensland students.”

GENEVA BOUND: Molly Mahlouzarides (third from right) with Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop and other Australian Delegates

JCU’s Exchange Program is your passport to the world! it gives you the opportunity to attend a university in another
part of the world, while gaining credit for your degree at JCU.

The Border Crossings Project is a 3-year mobility project with partners in Sweden, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia.Border Crossings will provide the opportunity for a total of eight JCU undergraduate students to study in Europe for one semester with one the four European partners.

• Malmo University (Sweden)
• Jagiellonian University (Poland)
• University of Roma Tre (Italy)
• Utrecht University (the Netherlands)

You will be able to choose from relevant courses at the respective host universities, and once approved by your academic advisor and/or Faculty Registrar you will receive credits toward your degree at JCU.The over-arching disciplines of the Border Crossings Project are:

• Cross Cultural Communication
• International Relations
• Development Studies
• Law
• Languages
• History
• Politics
• Conflict Studies
  
  

RELATED STORIES AND LINKS

On Exchange in Poland 

JCU Courses

JCU Singapore was established in 2003 as JCU’s first international campus. Bringing programs direct from Australia and resident senior academic staff from JCU to ensure academic quality, students studying at JCU Singapore can be assured of the same enriching university education as our students in Queensland Australia.

JCU Singapore offers fast track delivery of degrees, allowing students to complete their studies in a shorter duration (usually two years) than conventional Australian degrees. Coupled together with lower course fees and living expenses, JCU Singapore is an ideal study location.

When international delegates meet in November for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, they’ll be joined by 18-year-old JCU student Alice Baldwin.

By Courtney Lord

CANBERRA: Deputy Leader of the Federal Opposition Julie Bishop with Global Voices delegate and JCU student Alice Baldwin.

The first student to represent James Cook University at the APEC Summit, second-year Law and Arts student Alice Baldwin, is majoring in Politics and International Relations.

Baldwin is one of nine successful applicants from across Australia who are part of the Global Voices Australian Youth Delegation.

“I am the youngest Global Voices delegate this year,” Ms Baldwin said.

Global Voices delegates are given the opportunity to learn about international affairs, interact with world leaders and observe the proceedings of a major diplomatic forum.

In preparation for the summit, Ms Baldwin must complete a two-month research fellowship, which recently involved meetings with ministers and diplomatic representatives in Canberra.

While in Canberra, Ms Baldwin met with Deputy Leader of the Federal Opposition, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister for Trade Julie Bishop, Professor Peter Drysdale, from the Australian National University US Embassy, and the heads of APEC.

“It was such an amazing opportunity,” Ms Baldwin said. “I feel lucky to have met these people and make the connections I made.”

Ms Baldwin submitted her application to be part of the Global Voices Australian Youth Delegation after hearing about the opportunity from her lecturers.

“I was notified by phone that I had been successful two days prior to the pre-departure orientation in Canberra,” she said.

APEC consists of 21 Pacific Rim states and is the Asia Pacific’s premier regional forum. It aims to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region.

Since 1993, an annual Economic Leaders’ meeting has been held with Australia hosting APEC in 2007. The host company rotates each year. The United States of America will host the 2011 summit November 8-14, which Ms Baldwin is looking forward to attending.