To'abaita Authority for Research & Development (TARD)

[P.O Box 13, Honiara, Solomon Islands/ Email: tar_development@yahoo.com/ Tel:+677 7424025]

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Monday, October 16, 2006

To'abaita student offered two Australian Scholarships

North Malaita student at the University of the South Pacific's Laucala Campus and TARD Chairman, Mr Exsley Taloiburi, has been offered two Scholarships to undertake postgraduate studies in Australia next year 2007.

Mr Taloiburi has been accepted for the 2007 Australian Leadership Award Scholarship and the Tasmanian International Scholarship.

The Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) is a new award under which the Australian Government offers scholarships and fellowships for current and future leaders from the Asia-Pacific Region.

In addition, the Australian Leadership Awards provide exceptional educational opportunities in Australia. They are awarded to professionals who are already leaders or have a potential to assume leadership roles that can influence social and economic policy reform and development outcomes, both in their own countries and in the Asia and Pacific region.

The ALA Award provides scholarships for longer-term post-graduate study at masters or doctoral level and fellowships for short-term research, study or professional attachments. They will bring around 3200 scholars and fellows in the five years from 2006-2011 to study in Australia. It is managed by AusAID Canberra as part of Australia's overseas aid program. The Awards are available to present and future leaders and personnel in corporate, academic, non-government and government services.

2007 ALA scholarships were open for applications from 1 May to 31 July 2006. Successful applicants were advised early this month. General fields of study relevant to leaders in the region may include but are not limited to management, economics, business, political science, philosophy, history, law and public policy. In 2007, study programs that relate to priority fields of study will also be targeted in international trade, disease pandemics, security and clean energy.

According to information from AusAid Canberra, they have received almost 1000 applications from various regions throughout Asia and the Pacific. ALA scholarships are for postgraduate study (Masters or PhDs) in Australia. Only 30 doctoral and 150 masters degree scholarships were awarded for study commencing in Australian universities in 2007.

Mr Taloiburi is expected to pursue a Master of Environmental Management at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia beginning in semester 1 2007 under that ALA scholarship.

In lead up to the applications for the Australian Leadership Award, Exsley was also offered a Tasmania International Scholarship by the University of Tasmania. This scholarship enables an awardee to pay only 75 percent of the registered tuition fees for the entire course, and is open to all international students ranging from foundation to postgraduate studies. It is awarded on academic achievements in secondary, diploma or degree level courses.

This is another major achievement for the student initiated volunteer group, TARD, as well as the people of North Malaita which will help restore a good image to the region which has been tarnished badly by the recent ethnic problem in Solomon Islands.

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