Australia Offers 150 Scholarship Slots for Philippines, Asia-Pacific

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Australian government recently launched its 2009 Australian
Leadership Awards (ALA) Scholarships Program which will open to 150 students from across the
Asia-Pacific region including the Philippines.

“An ALA Scholarship is a significant opportunity for high achievers in the Philippines to
extend their education, strengthen their leadership skills, build networks and develop
strategies to address the development challenges we share,” Ambassador Rod Smith ,
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, said.

Smith added that the prestigious ALA sponsorship program which is open to current and
emerging leaders in the Asia-Pacific region will provide funding for study at Masters and
Doctorate levels in Australia.

The ALA Scholarship is one of the Australian Government Scholarship programs managed by the
Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). AusAID spends over $A133 million
annually on scholarship programs.

The AusAID said that scholars will be selected from a highly competitive regional pool on
the basis of demonstrated leadership qualities and academic achievement. Students who will
be given scholarship grants will study in Australian universities in 2009.
“Awards are open for all fields of study however study programs that relate to the priority
themes of shared regional interest – international trade, pandemics, security and climate
change including clean energy – are encouraged”, AusAID said.

Last March, sixteen (16) scholars from the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo)
underwent a two-week peace-building and development training course in Brisbane at the
University of Queensland to develop peace and development frameworks.

The course, which continues until the end of April in Mindanao, is significant to MEDCo’s
role in promoting and integrating peace and development in the island-region.

Applications for 2009 ALA Scholarships will close on 30 June 2008. Interested applicants may
visit the website – http://www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/ala.cfm – for more information. (MEDCo
w/AusAID)

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