PA/14/19 27 November 2019
Australia Awards Scholarships offered to 13 Bhutanese professionals
Thirteen outstanding Bhutanese professionals – nine women and four men - have been awarded Australia Awards Scholarships to pursue studies in a range of disciplines, commencing in early 2020.
Australia’s Deputy Head of Mission to India and Bhutan, Mr Rod Hilton, congratulated the scholarship recipients and presented them with certificates.
“You are a diverse and high-achieving group of people. These prestigious awards will help equip you with the skills to become leaders in your communities and contribute to sustainable and equitable economic development in Bhutan,” said Mr Hilton.
“Australia Awards Scholarships have traditionally supported Masters-level study in Bhutan. This year, we have been able to amend the program to support the Royal Government’s aspirations of developing the TVET sector, and I am delighted that two very talented young women will undertake Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management in Australia,” added Mr Hilton.
Australia’s efforts to help develop human resource capacity in Bhutan commenced with the Colombo Plan in the early 1960s. Education, including through the Australia Awards, plays a significant role in the Australia-Bhutan partnership to this day. Mr Hilton also presented an Alumni Award for National Leadership to Ms Tandin Wangmo, former CEO and Executive Director of RENEW, on behalf of the University of Newcastle.
The Commissioner of the Royal Civil Service Commission, Dasho Dhanapati Mishra, said “The Australia Awards give high importance to social equity factors including gender and disability. An Australian education will equip the awardees with new skills to create a better and stronger country back home”.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources, Dasho Sonam Wangchuk said, “Human resource development, including in the private sector, is very important to Bhutan’s socio-economic outlook. Study in Australia will have far reaching impact in the long term.”
Applications for the next round of Australia Awards Scholarships will open in February 2020.
For more information visit: https://australiaawardsbhutan.org/