Australia awards scholarships at Masters level |25 November 2013

Six Seychellois professionals selected

The six recipients in a souvenir photograph with acting high commissioner Maria Poulos (centre, front row), political/public affairs officer at the high commission Yasmina Hosanoo (left, front row), Sheridane Morel from the National Human Resource Development Council (right, front row) and senior chief executive officer of the Mauritian Ministry of Civil Service, Mr Seebaluck (far right, back row).  
The photo was taken during the reception hosted by the acting high commissioner at her residence on November 20, 2013.

The Australian government has selected six professionals from Seychelles to take up Australia awards scholarships at Masters level at Australian universities from January 2014.
The awardees are Jean Alcindor (Ministry of Education), Sandra Crewe (Ministry of Health), Jacques Filez (Ministry of Health), Marie-May Jeremie (Ministry of Environment and Energy), Diana Quatre (Seychelles Tourism Academy) and Erica Rath (Seychelles Tourism Academy).

In order to prepare the recipients to live and study in Australia, the Australian government hosted a two-day workshop in Mauritius from November 19-20, 2013. At the workshops, the recipients were thoroughly briefed on how to successfully relocate and how to approach their studies in Australia. Recipients also discussed their plans to use their new skills to contribute to their countries’ development on their return upon completion of their studies.

“The Australian government’s objective is to provide high-quality education and training to talented Seychellois professionals who will be in a position, on their return home, to make an important contribution to national or regional development,” says Maria Poulos, acting Australian high commissioner.

Australia awards provides postgraduate training opportunities to 50 countries across Africa. Australia awards promotes development in Africa through scholarships in areas where Australia is recognised as having world-leading expertise, including agriculture and food security, health, mining and natural resource management, public policy and water and sanitation.

The Australian government opened applications for the latest round of Australia awards scholarships (Masters level) and the shorter-term Australia awards Fellowships on September 1, 2013.
The closing dates for the scholarships are as follows:

-    Australia awards scholarships (Masters Level): December 13, 2013
-    Australia Awards Fellowships (short-term): January 17, 2014

Australia awards promotes equal involvement by both women and men with the aim of achieving gender balance. The initiative also aims to ensure that people with disability are given a fair and equal opportunity to compete for and obtain scholarships.

The Australian government has put arrangements in place to support applicants and awardees requiring specific help.
Since the introduction of the Australia awards programme in 2010, 47 Seychellois have been awarded Australia awards.