New Zealand Offers Scholarships to Vietnamese Students

The New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam has announced New Zealand ASEAN Scholarships for postgraduate courses for the 2016 academic year, calling for applicants from Vietnam. Under the program, 30 successful awardees from Vietnam will receive full tuition fees, return air fares, an establishment allowance upon arrival in New Zealand, a living allowance to cover day to day costs, and a reunion airfare for unaccompanied awardees, the Embassy said in a statement. “New Zealand ASEAN Scholarships are a great opportunity for Vietnamese students wishing to earn a highly valued and internationally recognized tertiary qualification,” said New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Haike Manning. “Studying in New Zealand opens up new and exciting prospects and empowers individuals with the skills and qualifications to make a lasting contribution to the economic, social and political development of their country.” Manning said that New Zealand and Vietnam are celebrating 40 years of friendship this year and education is one of the key priorities of the relationship. “Providing postgraduate scholarships to Vietnamese citizens is a demonstration of New Zealand’s commitment to support Vietnam’s efforts in human resource development,” he said. Under the program, priority is given to students studying in areas of New Zealand comparative advantage and those that are priorities for Vietnam, including agriculture and rural development, environment, disaster risk management, public sector management and private sector development. Information about the scholarships is available on the website of New Zealand Aid Program. Applications will close on June 30 for study beginning in early 2016. Since 1994, 185 Vietnamese students have been awarded with a scholarship under the annual program. (thanhniennews.com Mar 3)