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27 November 2007
64 NUOL Provincial Students awarded Australian scholarships
Sixty-four provincial students have been awarded Australian Government funded scholarships to study at the National University of Laos. The Australian Ambassador Dr Michele Forster presented the scholarships at an award ceremony held at the University last week.
The Australian Government, through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), has provided over 400 scholarships for provincial students since the program commenced in 1997. The scholarships are a practical way of enhancing provincial students’ opportunities to gain access to, and benefit from, higher education in Laos. They provide students from rural and remote areas with skills and training to contribute to on-going development in Lao PDR.
Ambassador Forster said that the “Supporting education in Lao PDR is a priority for the Australian Government. Human Resource Development is essential for broad based economic and social growth in the Lao PDR”. The Australian Government supports basic education, education system improvements, and has an extensive scholarship program. The scholarships also provide the students with a solid grounding for further studies either at home or abroad.
The provincial scholarships target students who show promise at high school level but do not have ready access to higher education because of remoteness or social-economic disadvantage. The scholarships are offered on an equal basis to boys and girls to support gender equity. The scholarships cover the first two years of study and include monthly stipends, accommodation, School of Foundation Studies administration fees and English language training.
In attendance at the ceremony were the President of NUOL, Associate Professor Soukkongseng Sayaleuth (first right), Australian Ambassador to Laos, Dr Michele Forster (middle) and First Secretary for AusAID, Mr Michael Hassett.