Seven Indian students get prestigious Australian scholarship

New Delhi, Sep 21 (ANI): Australian High Commissioner to India Peter Varghese today announced that seven Indian students will be offered the prestigious Australian Leadership Award (ALA) scholarship.

These scholarships are implemented by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) as part of the Australia Awards initiative.

The ALA program aims to develop leadership, build partnerships and enduring linkages between the countries of our region.

"I congratulate these seven outstanding people who have been identified for their potential to provide important policy leadership on their return home. These are individuals with the capability to shape future social and economic policy and development outcomes in India," said the High Commissioner.

The seven successful Indian candidates have been selected to receive one of the 205 ALA Scholarships offered globally in 2011.

"The Australia Leadership Awards demonstrate Australia's commitment to developing future leadership and building enduring partnerships with India. This is a relationship that will be of increasing importance to both countries in the years ahead," he said

The awardees will undertake postgraduate studies at some of Australia's most prestigious universities in fields that include: community planning; agricultural development; and intellectual property law.

The awardees will also participate in a tailored leadership development program to strengthen their leadership skills, establish networks with emerging leaders in other regional countries, and enhance their understanding of our region's development challenges. (ANI)