Yesterday Australia’s Ambassador to Laos, Mr. Paul Kelly, and the Deputy Minister for Education and Sports, Dr. Sisouk Vongvichit, farewelled 32 Lao Australia Awards Scholarships recipients.
The awardees will study in Australia and undertake a range of courses from six different Australian institutions, in a range of fields including health, education, human resources, trade, and agriculture.
“We are very pleased to continue to support Laos to build its skills and capacity. These scholarship students are future leaders who will strengthen the Australia-Laos partnership and will contribute to addressing local and regional challenges well into the future,” said Australia’s Ambassador to Laos, Mr Paul Kelly.
“We have provided scholarships to recipients from across all sectors and backgrounds, both government and non-government employees, to study in different fields at our world class education institutions”, Ambassador Kelly said.
“Many of our alumni are now working at senior levels of the Government, such as the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, and Ms. Chansoda Phonethip, Vice-President of the Lao Women’s Union. Our Alumni are also leaders in teaching, research, civil society, and the private sector, some of whom have become very successful entrepreneurs,” Ambassador Kelly added.
“In the past 70 years of our strong cooperation and continuing support, the Government of Australia has built a great reputation for being a reliable friend and partner in development cooperation” said Deputy Minister for Education and Sports, Dr. Sisouk Vongvichit. “This is underpinned by strong relationships with the Lao Government, business ties and people-to-people scholarships, granted to Lao nationals under various programs, whose graduates have become productive members of our society, many of whom are high achievers and respected leaders in their communities”.
Australia Awards Scholarships are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of global leaders. Australia Awards Scholarships provide Lao people with the opportunity to obtain qualifications at a Masters, PhD or Technical and Vocational Education and Training level at Australian institutions.
