AusAID selects 16 Tuvaluans for Australia Awards in 2013
12 September 2012
A total of 16 Tuvaluans have been selected as priority candidates for AusAID’s Australia Awards in 2013. A further 8 candidates have been shortlisted and final selection will depend on the Government of Tuvalu. If selected, this will bring the total Australia Awards for Tuvalu to 24 for the 2013 Intake.
The announcement follows a meeting in Suva of the Joint Scholarships Selection Committee (JSSC) - represented by Australia, New Zealand and Tuvalu. The JSSC selects candidates for AusAID’s Australia Awards and New Zealand’s Pacific Scholarships.
Four of the selected Tuvaluan candidates will receive awards under the Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) program which provides for study in Australia. Twelve others will undertake studies in the Pacific region as part of the Australian Regional Development Scholarships (ARDS) program.
Fifty one Tuvaluan students are currently studying under AusAID Australia Awards, either in Australia or in the region.
The Australian scholarships program supports Priority Outcome Two (Education and Human Resources) of the Tuvalu–Australia Partnership. This Outcome aims to facilitate provision of funded scholarships, targeted at supporting Tuvalu’s priority human resource development needs.
Australian funding assistance to Tuvalu through the scholarship program has been a successful initiative, enhancing the capacity of Tuvaluan citizens to better contribute to addressing the country’s development challenges. This assistance draws directly from Tuvalu’s development priorities, supporting Tuvalu’s National Strategic Plan ‘Te Kakeega II’.
Over the last 5 years, 36 students have completed programs under AusAID’s Australia Awards in areas of Education, Health, Economics and Public Sector Management Reform, Commerce, Law, Engineering, Climate Change and Environment.
Most of these alumni are now contributing to the development of Tuvalu - many through employment in senior positions within the Government of Tuvalu or with Non-Government Organisations.
Tuvalu has identified that its human resource development needs for 2013 include: Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics); Commerce (Accounting/ Economics); Economics & Public Sector Management Reform; Law; Agriculture & Fisheries; Education; Health and, Climate Change & Environment.
Australia, Tuvalu and New Zealand’s commitment to partnership under the Joint Scholarship Selection Committee preserves integrity and transparency in selection of these merit-based scholarships.
The AusAID Australia Awards assist the Government of Tuvalu to support its people to access higher education opportunities. This results in improved education standards for Tuvaluans, one of the key priorities identified in Te Kakeega II . Better education outcomes also support the Government of Tuvalu’s economic reform agenda.
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For clarifications or further information contact: The Public Affairs Section, Australian High Commission, Suva. Tel: (679)3382211 – Ext 246 Fax: (679) 3382065