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PHILIPPINE SCHOLARS RETURN FROM AUSTRALIA
Australia and the Philippines welcomed back last week 57 Filipino scholars returning from post-graduate study in Australia.
The scholars studied in Australia for one year under the Australian Development Scholarships, which aim to strengthen human resource capacity, contribute to long-term development needs and promote greater stability within the Asia-Pacific region.
Scholars studied in a range of fields such as human resource management, public administration, rural systems development, environmental management and development, educational leadership, among others. They will now take their experience and newly acquired skills back to their various Philippine government agencies and private organizations.
Chief of Public Investment Staff of the National Economic and Development Authority, Florante Igtiben, and AusAID officials welcomed the returning scholars.
The Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Mr Tony Hely said each year over 100 Australian Scholarships were awarded to Filipinos to study in Australia.
“The scholarships assist Australian and Philippine organisations to exchange ideas and skills and grow the people-to-people links between our countries,” Mr Hely said.
“The scholarships aim to improve the capacity of our partner institutions with assistance that may include long-term training and other shorter-term human resource development activities. When scholars return they are required to integrate their new experiences and skills into their organisations.
“Australia is one of the top three bilateral grant aid donors to the Philippines, along with the United States and Japan. The Philippines is Australia's fourth largest development partner after Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Indonesia,” Mr Hely said.
Returning scholars are from the following organizations: Bureau of Local Government Finance; Davao City Chamber of Commerce; Department of Agrarian Reform; Land Management Bureau; National Water Resources Board; National Statistics Office; National Statistical Coordination Board; Office of the Ombudsman; Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; Provincial Governments of Agusan del Sur, Bohol, Misamis Occidental and Northern Samar; Supreme Court of the Philippines; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; and partner universities in Mindanao.