Scholarships for Solomon Islanders to study in Australia next year are now open.
Information sessions will be held for schools and the general public over the coming week to explain the scholarship process and requirements, as well as priority areas of study. Information sessions will also be held in Isabel, Makira, Malaita and Western Province in March.
Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Matt Anderson said Australia Awards scholarships are helping to meet the future training and human resource development needs of the country.
“The scholarships are an important part of our Partnership for Development with Solomon Islands and this investment plays a significant role in making sure Solomon Islands has a highly skilled and trained work force, which in turn helps to promote development in the country,” Mr Anderson said.
“When the scholars return home to Solomon Islands and employ their newly acquired skills to contribute to development in Solomon Islands, this benefits the whole country.”
Mr Anderson said the 68 Solomon Islands scholarships awarded for 2013 made it the largest Australia Awards intake ever. The new students joined around 125 Solomon Islands students who are already studying at Australian or regional universities.
This year, AusAID’s two main scholarship programs have been renamed Australia Awards Scholarships and Australia Awards Fellowships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Australia.
The Australia Awards Scholarship are available for undergraduate and postgraduate study in two categories: open category for school leavers, private sector employees and those not in the work force; and public category for public servants.
The Australia Awards Fellowships are open to high achievers to undertake postgraduate study. A unique leadership program is also offered to scholars to develop their full leadership potential.
Course of study must relate to Solomon Islands - Australia Partnership for Development priority areas of: health (not including medicine), education, governance, climate change, economic growth, disability, gender, engineering (including construction, water and sanitation), mining, information technology, community development (including youth development), legal services, business, accounting and financial management, agricultural sciences (including forestry science and management) and veterinary services (animal science, animal health laboratory technology).
Under the Australia Awards, Australia supports three scholarship programs in Solomon Islands, allocating around SBD$30 million (A$4 million) every year. In addition to Australia Awards Scholarships and Australia Awards Fellowships, Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships are offered to study at regional institutions. The 2014 scholarships will be advertised in May and June.
Information about the Australia Awards, eligible institutions and courses, selection criteria, process and scholarship conditions is available from the AusAID website at:
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/australia-awards/pages/default.aspx
Australia Awards are awarded on merit, transparency and equal access. Applications from women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged. All applications must be lodged online by 15 April 2013.
For more information about Australian scholarships, contact the AusAID scholarships section at the Australian High Commission in Honiara. Telephone: 21561 or email: scholarships.solomonislands@ausaid.gov.au
Details of Honiara information sessions are:
Date: Friday, 22 February 2013
Time: 2pm – 5pm
Venue: Panatina Pavilion, School of Education, SINU, Panatina Campus
Target schools: Betikama Adventist College, King George Sixth National Secondary School, Honiara High School, St Nicholas High School
Date: Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Time: 2pm – 5pm
Venue: Panatina Pavilion, School of Education, SINU, Panatina Campus
Target schools: Selwyn National Secondary school, USP Foundation students
Date: Friday, 8 March 2013
Time: 2pm – 5pm
Venue: Panatina Pavilion, School of Education, SINU, Panatina Campus
Target schools: Public service category including students and teachers of SICHE/SINU
Press Release, Australian High Commission Office, Honiara