Education Secretary Narayan Gopal Malego and Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, Glenn White, today presented Australia Awards to Nepali recipients amid a function that the Australian Embassy had organised.

Thirty-nine Nepalis have received Australia Awards Scholarships to pursue postgraduate studies in Australia in 2014. The recipients also attended a daylong orientation on studying and living in Australia. Within the group, 16 are women and 19 are government employees. Australia is one of the largest providers of scholarships in Nepal.

These scholars will pursue studies in Australia’s priority sectors in Nepal, which include health, education, governance, livelihoods, water and sanitation and forestry.

Some awardees will study courses in public health, public policy, special radical surgical techniques, occupational therapy, development economics and development studies.

Four of the recipients have received Australia Awards on water management which falls under Australia’s regional scholarships for Nepal, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Speaking at the programme today, Ambassador White said, “I am very pleased with the calibre of awardees this year.” He said Australia can provide this opportunity to 39 Nepalis to experience Australia’s excellent universities.”

He said that Australia has seven universities ranked in the global top 100, which will provide another opportunity to strengthen the links between the people of our two countries, as well as give them the skills and knowledge to achieve great things for Nepal. The Australian government currently invests over Rs 21.4 billion annually in scholarships through the Australia Awards globally to provide opportunities to the best and brightest in partner countries to study in Australia.

In a press statement, the Australian Embassy said Australia Awards are prestigious international scholarships and fellowships funded by the Australian Government which not only develop skills and knowledge but also build enduring people-to-people links between Australia, regional neighbours and the broader international community.

It said the scholarships aim to contribute to the long-term objectives of developing countries to promote growth and stability. It further said the scholarships equip recipients with the skills and knowledge to drive change and contribute to the economic and social development of their own countries. According to the statement, around 440 Nepalis have been supported through the awards.

Many of these scholars are now members of the Association of Nepali Alumni from Australia and hold important positions in the government, private sector and civil society.

source: the himalayan times,2 Dec 2013