22 November 2012
Australia Congratulates 47 Scholarship Awardees
The Australian Ambassador to Laos, Ms Lynda Worthaisong, congratulated 47 Lao students who have successfully obtained Australia Awards to study at Australian universities at a ceremony held on 22 November. Two of the awardees will receive Australian Leaderships Awards which provide opportunities to enhance leadership capacity and extend networks on top of their scholarships.
The Australian Government has been providing scholarships for tertiary education in Australia since 1963 to assist Lao PDR to meet its goals in education, economic and social development and human resource needs.
Since the inception of Australian Government scholarships, more than 1,000 awardees have successfully gained tertiary qualifications in Australia and returned to apply their new skills in Lao PDR.
This year 26 Scholarships were awarded to Lao Government employees and 21 scholarships were awarded to non-government employees. An additional 4 places were offered to Lao Government employees as Trainees, studying English for academic purposes full time at Vientiane College for one year.
Thirteen of the scholarship awardees have already met the entry requirements to commence study in Australia in 2013. The remaining awardees will undertake a one-year preparation course at Vientiane College before commencing study in Australia in January 2014.
At the congratulatory ceremony held at Vientiane College on Thursday 22nd November, Ms Worthaisong said “Education is a flagship of Australia’s development cooperation program with Laos; and the Australia Awards are an integral element of this program. I am always inspired by the talent and commitment displayed by the recipients of Australian scholarships. It is a privilege to be able to help these hard-working students further their education such that they can return to Laos and contribute to Laos’ future development.”
Ms Worthaisong wished all the scholarship recipients good luck with their studies.
Media contact: Kalakate Xaythanith
Public Diplomacy Officer
AusAID, Australian Embassy
Tel: 353800 Ext. 105