Scholarships galore

Education in Australia will be cheaper now, with the launch of the $2.5m Global Peace Scholarship Programme.

At least 27 Australian universities and colleges, with support from the Queensland and Victorian Governments, along with the IELTS Australia Pty Ltd., have joined hands with IDP Education Australia to launch an extensive new international student scholarship programme aimed at building global peace and understanding. The $2.5m Global Peace Scholarship Programme has been designed specifically for deserving students who are unable to avail of the opportunities of studying in Australian universities and colleges.

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Says Lindy Hyam, Chief Executive, IDP Education Australia, “All deserving and needy students will be given an opportunity to enjoy an international study experience.” The scholarship scheme also aims to target those beyond the university, to cover vocational education and English language and school teaching sectors.

“The primary aim is to provide 1,000 university seats over the next 10 years to international students so as to allow them to study in Australia through the Peace Scholarship Trust. Finally, the plan is to extend the scheme to Australian students as well, so as to enable them to take up courses abroad,” informs Henry A. S. Ledlie, Director (India), IDP Education Australia.

The Peace Scholarship Trust was conceived in the immediate aftermath of the US 9/11 terrorist attacks. A small group of 11 Australian universities and colleges along with the IDP became the founding donors providing seed funding of nearly $1,00,000. Says Hyam, “Right from the start the international education industry has been enthusiastically behind this idea. The idea has been to provide a platform to Australian institutes that have reaped significant benefits from the influx of international students to Australia over the years, to give something back to international students. The scholarships will start in mid 2004.”