Four scholars farewelled

Youth & Careers

FOUR women have been farewelled by the British High Commission as they take up Chevening Scholarships to study in the United Kingdom (UK).
Scholars Samantha Andreas, Barbara Thomas, Theresa Gizoria and Dr Yvonne Sapuri were awarded full masters scholarships under the programme.
“We want to help build local skills, local expertise and local capacity,” British High Commissioner Keith Scott said during a farewell lunch in Port Moresby last Friday.
More than 120 Papua New Guineans have gone through the Chevening scholarship programme and for the first time this year, all the scholars are women.
The women have met eligible requirements such as:

  • Being of a Chevening-eligible country and agree to return there for a minimum of two years after completing the scholarship;
  • have completed an undergraduate degree that would enable one to gain entry to a postgraduate course at the UK University;
  • have at least two years of work experience; and,
  • Not have previously studied in the UK through a UK government-funded scholarship.

Andreas currently works as a processing improvement adviser at Ok Tedi Mine Ltd and will be undertaking a masters in science project management at the Lancaster University in England.
She said she planned to return to PNG as a business analyst and wants to use her new skills and knowledge in business improvement initiatives within the mining industry.
Thomas will study for a masters in arts power, participation and social change at the University of Sussex.
She is currently working as the PNG project coordinator for the Institute of Human Security and Social Change at Latrobe University in Melbourne, Australia.
Thomas said she hoped to learn as much as she could and use the experience to help influence the PNG knowledge economy and the civil society and community development spaces that she was connected to when she returned.
Gizoria will do a masters in science international mineral resource management at the University of Dundee in Scotland.
She wants to contribute to equitable resource management so that all of PNG’s benefits from its resources are available in the country.
Dr Sapuri will study for a masters in science clinical oncology at the University of Birmingham.
She currently works as a senior medical officer with the oncology unit of the West New Britain health authority.
Sapuri said that through further education in oncology she would be able to make a difference in the country’s health services.
The four received advice from former Chevening scholars during the farewell lunch and leave for the UK later this month.
Scott advised them to take part in the extra curriculum activities that would involve scholars from all over the world so they could learn more about other countries and their cultures.
The Chevening Scholarship programme is the UK government’s global scholarships programme that offers future leaders the unique opportunity to study in the UK.