Cordillerans below 40 years old who want to pursue postgraduate degrees may apply for the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship that will formally start in January 2024.
New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell is currently making the rounds in some of the universities in Baguio to promote the scholarship program to potential scholars from the Cordillera.
Only the cities of Baguio and Davao, known for the vibrant cultural heritage of their inhabitants, were chosen as pilot areas for the scholarship program.
Kell told reporters the priority sectors for study in the postgraduate degrees are climate change and environment, renewable energy, food security and agriculture, peace and conflict studies, indigenous studies, peace and conflict studies, disaster risk management, and cultural diversity.
Only 16 Filipino applicants will qualify for the scholarship program.
Interested applicants may visit the New Zealand website at www.newzealand.com and visit the study link to check on the possible courses and potential universities where they wish to enroll in.
Online application via newzealand.com starts on Feb. 1 and closes on Feb. 28, 2023.
With a full Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship, scholars receive full tuition, return economy air travel and travel insurance, medical insurance when you are in New Zealand, provision for students to meet basic living costs, an establishment allowance to help with setup costs in New Zealand, and help with research and thesis costs for many postgraduate students.
The partners of students may be eligible for a work visa that allows them to live and work in New Zealand for the duration of their partner’s study.
Kell said the New Zealand government values Manaaki scholars by providing them with a world-class education and positive New Zealand experience, adding the government also values its partner governments by sending scholars back better equipped to contribute to their countries’ development. – Harley Palangchao
