Two Singaporeans awarded prestigious Australian study scholarships

HE Miles Kupa, Australia’s High Commissioner to Singapore, will present official letters of congratulation to the two high achieving young Singaporeans – Dr Muhammad Iqmal Bin Abdullah and Ms Jessica Chen – who are among the 107 Endeavour Awards Scholars for 2008, at the Study in Australia Showcase tomorrow.

What: Endeavour Award Scholarship Presentation Ceremony
Guest of Honour: HE Miles Kupa, Australian High Commissioner to Singapore
When: 11am, Saturday 15 March 2008
Where: Study in Australia Showcase
Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hall 402, Centre

The Endeavour Awards are an Australian Government initiative to bring high achieving students, researchers and professionals from around the world to Australia for study, research or professional development. The scheme also enables high calibre Australians to study abroad.

Dr Iqmal will undertake a Masters in Public Health and Tropical Medicine at James Cook University (JCU) – one of the world’s leading tropical research facilities. Dr Iqmal graduated with a medical degree from National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2004. He is currently working as a Medical Officer at Singapore’s Ministry of Health.

Ms Chen, who is about to complete her Master of Science at NUS, will pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine) at University of Tasmania. As part of her PhD research, Ms Chen will be conducting research into stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases at the university’s internationally-renowned Menzies Research Institute. Ms Chen graduated with a Bachelor of Science (2nd Class Honours) from NUS in 2006.

The Endeavour Awards build on the legacy of the Colombo Plan, which commenced in the early 1950s and saw thousands of Asian students staying and studying in Australia. The Awards are part of Australia’s efforts to foster international cooperation and enhance education opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region.

“Through their studies, research and personal experience in with Australia, the Endeavour Awards Scholars have a unique opportunity to contribute much to their chosen fields and to their careers. Along the way, they also build enduring professional and personal networks with the people of Australia – relationships that continue long after the scholars have completed their studies and research. This supports the strong, continuing ties between our two nations,” says Mr Kupa.

The Awards are internationally competitive and merit-based, and will provide more than 9000 scholarships over five years, from 2006 to 2011, including for postgraduate, undergraduate, vocational and technical education courses, and research and professional development. They are open to all fields of study. www.endeavour.dest.gov.au