From Melbourne to Mongolia

For Angelo Groza, the journey from a Melbourne uni lecture theatre to a windswept Mongolian yurt wasn’t just a study abroad trip, it was a radical, perspective-shifting adventure that redefined his personal and professional future.

When Angelo applied for the New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholarship during the uncertain days of COVID-19, he never imagined the transformation that awaited him. The ACU law and global studies student embarked on an adventure that would take him across cultures, climates and career-defining moments – from bustling Manila to the windswept grasslands of Mongolia.

What began as a six-month exchange turned into a year-long odyssey, packed with language learning, diplomatic exposure and profound personal growth. 

“I never would have believed the doors this program would open,” Angelo said. 

“It changed everything.”

A semester in the Philippines

Angelo began his journey with a semester exchange at Ateneo de Manila University, one of the Philippines’ most prestigious institutions. Studying political science and international relations, he found himself immersed in both academic and cultural learning.

“Filipinos are so welcoming. They love foreigners and I quickly made friends – not only with locals, but also with students from Japan, China, South Korea and Europe. It was an incredibly diverse community.”

But it wasn’t just the classroom discussions that stood out. The real-world context of Philippine politics hit home in unexpected ways. While studying the country’s deep-rooted political dynasties, Angelo asked his classmates if any of them were connected to such families.

“To my surprise, one said her uncle was the president of the Philippines, and another’s uncle was a mayor. That’s when it hit me – this was real. I wasn’t just learning theory. I was surrounded by the people shaping the nation’s future,” he said.

“At ACU, most students come from humble backgrounds. My own grandmother used to clean houses for a living. Suddenly, I was in rooms with the country’s elite. It was surreal.”

Baguio Cathedral of Our Lady of Atonement in the Philippines.

His internships in the Philippines included working with the Center for Migrant Advocacy, championing the rights of overseas Filipino workers and supporting the legal department of a major tech company.

The unexpected detour to Mongolia

Even before setting foot in the Philippines, Angelo had dreams of visiting Mongolia. Initially rejected for an internship in Ulaanbaatar, Angelo persisted. Two months into his semester, the organisation changed its mind. He arranged to 
travel to Mongolia straight after completing his exchange.

“It’s such a fascinating place – isolated, culturally rich and largely untouched by Western influence,” he said.

Getting there was no small feat. Just days before his flight, a typhoon struck the Philippines, leaving him stranded on an island. He took a gruelling 20-hour ferry to Manila and barely made his connecting flight. 

“It was torturous. But worth every moment,” he said.

In Mongolia, Angelo interned at the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries – a United Nations affiliated organisation. He attended a conference in Ulaanbaatar alongside diplomats from Africa, South America and Central Asia, preparing for a global summit in Kigali, Rwanda.

“It was my first real taste of international diplomacy,” he said. 

“I wore a translation earpiece while delegates spoke Russian and French. It was eye-opening to see how international meetings run – messy, political and full of grandstanding. Not the polished version you read about in textbooks.”

Mongolia also brought unexpected cultural resonance. 

“Being Romanian, I felt oddly at home with the Soviet-era architecture, and I noticed many cultural echoes. It was eerie but beautiful,” he said.

Between formal diplomatic engagements and think tank work, Angelo immersed himself in Mongolian life. He spent nights in traditional yurts, learned local languages, watched wild horses being tamed, and even encountered a shaman during a drumming ritual in the hills.

“That moment – the wolf pelt, the drumming, the silence of the mountains – was like being in another universe,” he said.

Lessons beyond borders

The NCP didn’t just enhance Angelo’s academic knowledge – it transformed his skillset. He gained practical insights into cross-cultural communication, diplomacy and foreign policy, particularly around Australia’s relations with Southeast Asia.

It also helped him overcome impostor syndrome.

“I felt like a nobody next to scholars from other universities,” he said.

“But by the end, I was the first post-COVID NCP scholar in both Mongolia and the Philippines, and for most of my program, I was the sole scholar in both locations. That made me realise I belonged.”

Angelo now works with the Department of Defence – an opportunity inspired and enabled by his NCP experiences and alumni network. He continues to mentor NCP applicants and has even started a Melbourne alumni group that meets monthly to share international cuisine and experiences.

“I want more ACU students to apply,” he said.

“There’s a myth that these scholarships are only for students from the big universities. But I’m proof that if you have a story and the drive, you can succeed.”

He also believes ACU is uniquely positioned to send students to countries like the Philippines and Timor-Leste, given the university’s Catholic ties. 

“You don’t have to be Catholic to benefit. But those networks are there, and they’re powerful,” he said.

Follow in his footsteps

For students considering the NCP, Angelo’s message is simple.

“Apply. Don’t let self-doubt hold you back. During my interview, I cried while sharing my personal story. That honesty is what made me stand out. They’re not looking for perfection – they’re looking for passion,” he said.

“You don’t have to intern at the UN or go to a well-known location like Japan to have a meaningful NCP journey. There are incredible, underexplored destinations like Mongolia and the Philippines that need more student engagement.”

As he steps into his role in the public service, Angelo carries not just memories, but a new outlook on life.

“I think about my NCP experience every day. It gave me perspective, purpose and a global family. I’ll be forever grateful.”

Want an experience like Angelo’s? Explore your options.