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MANILA, Philippines — Seeking to provide support to the best and brightest to pursue their education, and to enhance its ties with its neighbors, the Australian government has announced an enhanced scholarship program for international students.
The Australia Awards aims to bring together all Australian scholarship programs “under a single recognizable brand.”
“Rather than dilute Australia’s scholarship effort through a group of uncoordinated programs, the Australia Awards initiative will ensure that Australian scholarships are consolidated, better branded and delivered to support Australia’s long term interests,” according to a press statement of the Australian embassy.
The Australian government invests $200 million each year in its scholarship programs, which supports around 5,000 international students to study in Australia.
In Singapore, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that the first phase of the initiative will be the Australia Asia Awards, which will be supported by a new funding worth $18 million.
Australia boasts of cutting-edge capabilities in the education sector, which includes eight of the world’s top 100 universities.
The initiative targets to encourage recipients to maintain their links to Australia through a string alumni plan, embark on a robust marketing strategy to promote the Australia Awards brand, provide better experience to beneficiaries during their period of study through enhanced student services, and establish a high profile board that will provide expert advice and strategic directions on how the scholarship program can meet Australia’s long-term interests, and can compete with other world-class scholarship programs.
