A total of 95 students at the National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) have been successful in securing scholarships beginning this academic year.

A recent Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) newsletter announced the scholarship awards for students to undertake studies in Australia, New Zealand and other countries beginning in the 2020 academic year.

The P.S.C. newsletter also advised of changes in the administration of the scholarship programme with the Commission’s human resource division now working in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (M.F.A.T.).

The two organisations would now jointly assess and interview scholarship applicants while doing cross-checks on the merits of the applications as well as run pre-departure briefings for the successful applicants.

The collaboration between the Commission and Ministry is a result of work by the Commission in 2016 as the Commission’s mandated function to determine staffing structures of Government Ministries – under its jurisdiction and organisation structural reviews – were continuously undertaken as per request by Ministries during the financial year 2016/2017. 

The M.F.A.T. requested organisational change, following confirmation of its responsibilities following a review by the Commission, leading to the Ministry’s Staff Training, Scholarships and Bilateral Division getting redesigned and assigned as a Bilateral Division, with the impending transfer of trainings and scholarships functions to the Commission to manage and administer. 

In previous years, all management of scholarships were done by the Ministry’s Staff Training and Scholarships Committee (S.T.S.C.). 

The administration of long and short-term study opportunities abroad and in local tertiary Institutions focused on the administration and development of policies, for the various scholarship schemes and short term training opportunities sponsored by the Government and partner governments undertaken locally and overseas. 

The alignment of scholarships and training opportunities to the country’s human resource development priorities list is aimed at ensuring that qualifications sought are aligned to the employment needs of the country and continued availability of such opportunities to the people of Samoa.

It is understood Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi will be among guests at a reception of Government scholarship students on Tuesday at the N.U.S., along with representatives from the New Zealand and Australian Governments.

Last month 29 scholarship recipients met at the Australian High Commission in Apia for a briefing hosted by Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Sara Moriarty before they travelled to Australia for studies.