The Institute of Professional Engineers Samoa (I.P.E.S) has presented financial assistance scholarships to 30 National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) students.

The funding assistance is provided with the hope that it will motivate the student recipients to consider a career path in engineering and related fields.

The I.P.E.S Council had approved scholarships to the total value of $50,000 with $30,000 to be allocated to N.U.S student scholarships and the remaining balance going to selected colleges and trade institutes.

I.P.E.S was established in 1984. The objective of the scholarship programme is to encourage students to study  science, maths and engineering-related courses

The I.P.E.S Chairman of scholarships sub-committee, says the chosen learning institutions will be Don Bosco Technical College, Laumua o Punaoa and the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S) Vocational School in Savaii.

The scholarship will go towards a student's tuition for semester 1 and 2 and they will be awarded $500 for the semester with a $500 semester 2 grant following the successful completion of the first semester.

The President of I.P.E.S., Aiono Meresaini Siaosi-Laulua, said that COVID-19 challenges posed new challenges to the programme.

"We are also trying to talk to our [Australia Pacific Training Coalition partners and others overseas] if we could bring an engineering diploma or certificate in Samoa, that way we have students who are interested in engineering will be able to enrol in that particular course," she said.

They are hoping to facilitate that through the N.U.S. but she said that planning for the programme is still underway.

Aiono said they advocate for engineering because they are the backbone of supporting the development of infrastructure that helps Samoa’s economic development.

From the year 2008-2013, a total of 120 I.P.E.S scholarships worth $120,000 were awarded to N.U.S. scholarship recipients.