New Zealand opens post-grad scholarships for Filipino youth

THE New Zealand government is again offering scholarships for Filipino youth who would like to pursue post-graduate studies in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Embassy said applications for the Manaaki Scholaships will open on February 1.

Manaaki is a Māori word that revolves around the concepts of generosity, hospitality, sharing and community building. It literally means to lift up or elevate (aki) another person’s mana (honor, esteem, respect, value).

The The New Zealand Government through the New Zealand Aid Programme will fund the scholarships

“Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships help build prosperity, security and sustainable growth in the Philippines and a lifetime connection with New Zealand. Aotearoa New Zealand’s development partnerships in the Philippines reflect New Zealand’s strengths in agriculture, education, governance, renewable energy, and disaster resilience,” New Zealand Ambassador Peter Kell said.

Qualifications

The scholarship is open to public, private and civil society sectors.

Applicants should be under 40 years of age at the time of commencing their scholarship.

They should have at least one year of work experience. If including internship or volunteer work, the requirement is be at least two years of work experience.

Applicants should also commit to return to the Philippines for a minimum of two years upon completion of study.

Post-graduate fields

Priority sectors for study include post-graduate degrees in:

Climate Change and the Environment

• Climate change
• Climate change science
• Environmental policy and planning
• Environmental law
• Civil engineering
• Water management
• Natural resource management

Disaster Risk Management

• Disaster management
• Emergency management
• Geology
• Geotechnical engineering

Food Security and Agriculture

• Agribusiness
• Agricultural science
• Agricultural technology
• Aquaculture
• Farm management
• Food technology
• Supply chain management

Renewable Energy

• Energy distribution systems and technologies
• Energy management
• Energy policy
• Geothermal, hydroelectric, hydrothermal, solar and wind energy

Governance

• Government Services: Public policy, public service management
• Peace and conflict studies
• Indigenous studies

Scholarships will cover full tuition, living expenses, establishment allowance, medical and travel insurance and travel to and from the Philippines.

Number of scholars

This year, there were eight young FIlipinos who were awarded the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships:

• Saidin Ali – Master of Marine Studies, University of Auckland)
• Efren Gabriel Alvarado – Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience, University of Canterbury
• Mary Jill Banta – Master of Environmental Science, Victoria University of Wellington
• Chareen Joy Guzman – Master of Environmental Policy and Management, Lincoln University
• Jay Jomar Quintos PhD Indigenous Studies, The University of Otago-Dunedin
• Nina Joan Revalde – Masters in Engineering Management, University of Auckland
• Keith David Salarda – Master of Disaster Management, University of Auckland
• and Leslie Sampollo – PhD Marine Science, University of Auckland

For 2024, 16 slots will be opened for Filipino young scholars.

Promotion in Baguio

Ambassador Kell will be in Baguio City from January 30-31 to promote the Manaaki Scholarship Programme. He will meet with stakeholders to encourage young Cordillerans to apply.

“Ambassador Peter Kell would like to encourage more indigenous and Cordilleran young academics and practitioners in the relevant fields to apply to the programme,” the New Zealand Embassy said in a statement.

According to the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Manaaki has been receiving a small number of applications from scholars in the Mindanao and the Visayas for the past years.

How to apply

The application portal will open at 5 am Philippine time Wednesday 1 February, and close 5 pm Tuesday 28 February.

Interested applicants may visit the New Zealand Embassy in Manila Facebook page for more details (http://www.facebook.com/nzembassyphilippines). For questions, you many message them directly https://scholarship.force.com/Scholar/s/enquiry .

---

Banner photo courtesy: Study with New Zealand FB Page