Recipients of Australia Awards Scholarships are to leave for Australia to join in their Master’s degree studies to be started from early next year.
According to the Australian Embassy press release, of the nine scholarship recipients five are women and two are people with disability.
Addressing the award ceremony, Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi said, “As Nepal prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country, we will require highly qualified human resources.
“The skills, knowledge and exposure of the recipients of the prestigious Australia Awards scholarships will be of immense importance to Nepal in contributing to the transformation process of Nepal,” stressed the Chief Secretary.
Ambassador of Australia to Nepal Ms. Felicity Volk said, “The Australia Awards program focuses on social inclusion, making it a scheme that is truly representative of the rich diversity of Nepali society. Gender equality, inclusion for people living with disability and social inclusion underpin our selection processes. And our data speak to the success of these efforts. Of this cohort: 56% are females; 67% are from traditionally marginalized communities; and 22% are people with disability.”
Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term development awards funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Scholarships provide emerging leaders with study and research opportunities to develop skills, knowledge and networks, to drive change and contribute to development in their home countries.
Scholarships have been a key feature of Australia’s foreign policy since the Colombo Plan of the 1950s. Since then, more than 100,000 individuals from around the world have received an Australian Government scholarship to study in Australia.
More than 1,100 Nepalis have pursued study and research in Australia with the support of Australia Awards, said the press note.
Applications for the next cycle of Australia Awards Scholarships will open in February 2023, it added.
