An Evaluation of the Reintegration Plan (RP) of the Australia Awards Scholarship (AAS). A case study of three AAS recipients studying at Murdoch University, Western Australia.

Ruth Javin

The Australia Awards Scholarship (AAS) program, delivered through Australia’s Development Program, has shown transformative results for recipients from participating countries since its establishment following the launch of the Colombo Plan in the 1950s. The outcomes have been largely positive, allowing recipients to contribute meaningfully to their countries' development priorities after completing their studies in Australia. Although the program highlights extensive positive feedback on AAS contributions to the development goals of participating countries, there is little evidence from scholars from recipient countries describing their perception and understanding of the reintegration plan, the primary tool used by the AAS to hold recipients accountable for development contributions they committed to before being granted a scholarship. This study examines the lived experiences of three AAS recipients, including my own as both a recipient and the researcher. All three of us are part of the 2023 AAS cohort at Murdoch University. Each respondent is a mid-career professional from nations in the Indo-Pacific region: Papua New Guinea (the researcher), Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands. By sharing our stories, we aim to contribute to improving the Reintegration component of the AAS to strengthen the RP process and better align with the development priorities of countries currently benefiting from the AAS. Ultimately, our goal is to help the program better serve Australia’s national interests in the region. Findings show that, despite the positive personal and professional impacts of the program, including gaining an international qualification, the increasing political instability in the chosen recipient countries creates significant challenges for returning scholars. These challenges are creating obstacles that hinder their ability to carry out their reintegration plans effectively, thus limiting their capacity to use the skills and knowledge gained in Australia to address their countries' development needs. Furthermore, the study reveals certain gaps in the current AAS policies, highlighting a need for adjustment. It indicates that the reintegration plans often act more as indicators than practical, actionable frameworks, and that the AAS programme runs the risk of functioning more as a political instrument than a means to deliver real development results. While the AAS program is valuable and well-placed to support the development goals of recipient nations, this research found that existing mechanisms, particularly the Reintegration Plan (RP) aspect of the scholarship, require reforms to improve their effectiveness in better achieving the intended impacts of the AAS program. Directions for future research are the possibility of restructuring the timing of the RP by moving it closer to the end of the degree to improve its relevance, combined with follow-up research via data from an effective Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to create a continuous improvement cycle that refines the effectiveness of the RP.

An Evaluation of the Reintegration Plan (RP) of the Australia Awards Scholarship (AAS). A case study of three AAS recipients studying at Murdoch University, Western Australia.

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