Asia Society Scholarship Recipients & Testimonials

Reina Caballero
Bachelor of Marketing and Media
Hanyang University, South Korea 

If you asked me, as a soon to be graduate, what the highlight of my university experience was, I’d say spending a semester at Hanyang University in Korea, thanks to the Asia Society scholarship.
When I was offered the scholarship, I didn’t have a lot of time to decide whether to take it or not. All I knew was that it was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. Even if it meant being far away from my family, my friends, a life I was familiar with, for an entire semester.

While I discovered my love for spontaneous travel, I learnt something much deeper. Living in a country as culturally rich as Korea has increased my cultural awareness. It has allowed me to empathise better with those around me and become familiar with the ways in which they communicate.

Ultimately, the Asia Society scholarship, through my semester in Korea, has allowed me to become a more empathetic person. In a multicultural country like Australia, I get to interact with people of cultures different from my own. Being aware of other cultures truly goes a long way in communicating better and developing strong relationships with others.

Joshua Santos
Bachelor of Commerce with the degree of Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Enlightenment. Humbling. Chaotically Breathtaking.
Little did I know that my time in Thailand would be the adventure of a lifetime.

My program with the Asia Society began at the Heart of Bangkok, Thailand where I pursued my studies under the Joint International Psychology Program. I must say, immersing into their education system was a cultural experience. From the daily motorbike rides I’d get to school, the cravings I’d experience upon seeing $2 plates of Pad Thais, to the awesome field trips that were organised around the country. But the biggest highlight was the opportunity to build myself both personally and professionally.

The program has definitely had an equitable reach; In many ways, the program has been transformative and I have no doubt we will continue to experience the benefits of our newly acquired Asia literacies and capabilities for many years to come.