Australian Embassy
The Philippines

MR101215-Filipino High Achievers Win Australian Leadership Award Scholarships

FILIPINO HIGH ACHIEVERS WIN AUSTRALIAN LEADERSHIP AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS


Australian Leadership Awards-Scholarships awardees
with Australian Embassy Deputy Head of Mission
Andrew Byrne (seated, center)

Eighteen Filipino high achievers have won post-graduate scholarships to elite Australian universities under the Australian Government’s prestigious Australian Leadership Award (ALA) scholarships program.

These scholarships are implemented by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) as part of the Australia Awards initiative. The ALA program aims to develop leadership, build partnerships and enduring linkages between developing countries and Australia.

“These eighteen outstanding Filipinos have been recognised for their potential to assume leadership roles to influence social and economic policy reforms, and drive development in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region into the future,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith said.

The successful awardees have been selected from over 200 applicants from the Philippines, and a total of 3,114 across the region. Only 205 ALA Scholarships were awarded in 2011, with Filipinos winning almost 10 percent of available awards.

“These scholars can be justifiably proud of winning a prestigious award and I congratulate them all,” Ambassador Smith said.

“The Australia Awards initiative demonstrates Australia’s commitment to supporting the best and brightest individuals who are able to work with their governments and communities, with each other, and with Australia, to meet regional and global development challenges.”

The awardees will undertake postgraduate studies at Australian universities in fields that include public health, environmental management, climate change, international affairs, management and the sciences. They will also participate in a tailored leadership development program during the course of their studies to strengthen their leadership skills, establish regional networks and enhance their understanding of regional development challenges.

One of the ALA awardees, Mr Jun Ryan Orbina from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), who will pursue a Master of Science in Public Health at the Australian National University, said “when I return to the Philippines after my scholarship program, I will work further in strengthening the link between technical scientific research findings and public policy through effective communication.” Another awardee will undertake studies on flood risk modelling associated with the growing flood risks confronting the Philippines in light of climate change.

For 2011, the Australian Government is providing 158 post-graduate Australia Awards scholarships to Filipinos, comprised of 18 ALA Scholarships, 20 Endeavour Awards, and 120 Australian Development Scholarships.

Further information about Australia Awards can be found at www.australiaawards.gov.au.