120 Australian scholarships available for Filipino leaders and achievers

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell announced the opening of applications for Australia Awards for Development at the Masters and PhD levels in Australia for 2013. At least 120 post-graduate scholarships will be available to high-achieving Filipinos to study in leading Australian universities.

"The Development Awards, through extensive scholarship programs, aim to contribute to the long term development of the Philippines, and to promote knowledge, education links and enduring ties between Australia and the Philippines,” Ambassador Tweddell said. “Through its aid program, the Australian Government places a high premium on improving the human capital of the Philippines by increasing access to quality education and training for people.”

Australia Awards for Development include the Australian Development Scholarships and the Australian Leadership Awards administered by AusAID. These awards aim to develop capacity and leadership skills so that individuals can contribute to development in their home country. In the Philippines, the Australia Awards for Development are part of the Australia-Philippines development cooperation program and are targeted at priority development needs in the areas of basic education, social protection and welfare, peace and development, public financial management, disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation, organisational development, trade, foreign relations, and pandemics. Australian Development Scholarship applicants who demonstrate the most potential to impact development in the Philippines will be considered for the additional prestigious Australian Leadership Award.

Past Australian Government scholars who have made significant contributions in their respective fields include: former Department of Education Undersecretary Fe Hidalgo, Mr Rex Bernardo (2008 Apolinario Mabini Presidential Awardee, 2008 Ten Outstanding Young Men awardee, and 2011 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader), and Ms Dodette Bernaldez (2010 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awardee).

67 Filipinos awarded scholarships to study in leading Australian Universities

A new group of Filipino professionals awarded scholarships through the Australia Awards – Development Awards, is set to leave this January 2012 to pursue post-graduate studies in Australia.

“Australia Awards are a cornerstone of Australia-Philippines relations and provide lasting contribution to Philippine development through education,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith said.

“We are proud to have hosted over 2,000 Filipino awardees since the 1960s, and over 400 in the past five years.” Ambassador Smith also noted that the awardees will be studying in world class universities in Australia. The 2011-12 World University Rankings show that eight Australian universities are among the 100 most prestigious universities in world.