Close to 400 students from New Zealand will soon be joining study programs across Asia and Latin America with the award of Prime Minister’s scholarships.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced the awards earlier this week, saying that the goal of the program was to seek to rebuild global ties after several years of closed borders as a result of Covid-19. New Zealand borders are due to open fully on July 31.
“New Zealand is reconnecting with the world, and for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, New Zealanders will embark on a range of programs in Asia and Latin America,” Chris Hipkins said.
The 387 tertiary students involved in the government-funded program will join 30 groups heading to countries including Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan and India.
The scholarships cover travel, accommodation and study costs.
“Successful programs range from a nine-week internship and entrepreneurship program in Taiwan, to a four-week agribusiness program in Colombia and a six-week food innovation study tour in Indonesia,” Hipkins continued.
“A diverse range of New Zealanders will benefit, including a marae, non-profit organisation TupuToa, six of New Zealand’s eight universities, Te Pūkenga (a vocational education provider), and a number of private training establishments.”
The majority of programs will have environmental sustainability as their focus.
Funded by the New Zealand government and administered by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, the Prime Minister’s Scholarships have supported more than 2,400 New Zealanders in study programmes in Asia and Latin America since 2013.
