The University of the Philippines Mindanao welcomed New Zealand Ambassador Peter Kell together with the New Zealand Embassy Honorary Consul for Mindanao, Vicente Lao, on January 24, 2024, for the promotion of the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship.
The Office of Student Affairs opened an information session to promote the scholarship to young academics and practitioners, including young Indigenous professionals, and how Aotearoa New Zealand supports Indigenous peoples in the Philippines through its development partnerships.
New Zealand highly encouraged applicants from scholars from Mindanao, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and from the Visayas to apply to the program. Chancellor Murao also expressed encouragement to the audience present and online to join the program in her welcome remarks.
“I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to build up on your skills and further your education so that eventually you can use this to help build up Mindanao,” said Chancellor Murao.
Marvin Louie G. Orbeta, BS Agribusiness Economics Alumnus and Science Research Specialist of UPMin Agri-Aqua Value Chain Laboratory, is one of the successful applicants for the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship for the year 2024.
The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship is a full government scholarship to develop leadership skills and practical skills that students may share with their home country. The scholarship focuses on the following programs: Climate Change and Environment, Public Health, Disaster Management, Food Security and Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Good Governance.
Filipinos under forty years old seeking higher studies in the programs mentioned may apply through the embassy website at www.mfat.govt.nz
Written by: KC Ann Neljane Abella