Australian High Commission
Islamabad
Pakistan

Australia celebrates successes of Pakistani scholarship awardees

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION
ISLAMABAD

 

Press Release

Australia celebrates successes of Pakistani scholarship awardees

 
26 February 2013

On 26 February 2013, AusAID held an Australia Awards ceremony in Islamabad to celebrate 33 Pakistani students’ successful completion of training programs. The training was under the Australia Pakistan Agriculture Scholarships short course awards and Foundation Awards initiatives. Mr. Scott Dawson, the First Assistant Director General of AusAID’s South and West Asia Division, gave certificates to the successful scholars.

During his address, Mr Dawson highlighted the transformation that is taking place in the Asian region, describing Asia’s rise as a ‘defining feature of the 21st century’. He said, ‘there are great mutual opportunities and social and cultural benefits from broadening and deepening people-to-people links across the Asian region. This is why the Australian Prime Minister announced that Australia will provide 12,000 Australia Awards to Asian nations, including Pakistan, over the next five years.’

The Australia Pakistan Agriculture Scholarship short course awards were offered for the first time in Pakistan in 2012. The awards went to professionals working in the agriculture sector from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh. The first cohort of scholars undertook a four week course on Pro-poor Market Development in Rural Areas at the University of Queensland, Australia. The scholars have now returned to Pakistan and are utilising their new skills and knowledge in their work.

Similarly, Foundation Awards training was organised for 11 candidates from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in 2012. The majority of these awardees were women. Through the Foundation Awards initiative candidates receive training in-country to enhance their english language proficiency, general study and IT skills so that they may apply for longer-term Australia Awards in future intakes.
 

 

Contact: Melissa Kelly (051 8355346)