Oz-Dev: PNG Scholarships

The goal of the Scholarships PNG is to contribute to equitable economic growth and poverty reduction in Papua New Guinea (PNG) by the development of highly skilled men and women who are able to apply their professional and technical expertise, experience and leadership skills in the workplace and in society. The AusAID and NZAID Scholarship Programs have supported the development priorities of PNG for many years. Scholarships also play an important role in addressing skills shortages and scholars also develop and maintain strong academic, professional, social and friendship links between the two countries, through living and working with their Australian or New Zealand (NZ) peers and colleagues. In the past, the relatively high number of scholarships (in comparison to PNG’s population, the size of Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) and of the private sector) has led to difficulties in attracting sufficient numbers of suitable applicants. Many had insufficient education background, with some PNG agencies and organisations lacking capacity to release the scholars for several years. This scope of services includes strategies to improve this situation and to better target, select and prepare scholars for their study, as well as increased engagement and follow-up on return. AusAID funds approximately 130 Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) and up to 20 Australian Leadership Awards Scholarships (ALAS) annually. The ADS and ALAS programs will remain a central part of supporting the development of PNG’s human resources, through a significant number of men and women gaining higher levels of qualification, increased technical and professional capabilities and increased opportunities for secure employment. While up to 20 places are available under the ALAS program, PNG has missed opportunities under this regionally competitive program. In previous years, insufficient eligible candidates have applied and the shortlists put forward to Canberra for consideration have always been less than 12 candidates.