scholarships

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Samoa – New Zealand Treaty of Friendship, the University of Otago and the University of Otago Alumni – Samoa Chapter – La o Samoa led by President –
Tootooleaava Dr. Fanaafi Aiono Le Tagaloa presented a cheque of SAT$10,000.00 to the NUS Vice
Chancellor – Associate Professor Tuifuisa’a Patila Malua Amosa last week for Fees Assistance
Scholarships.

The recipients will pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).  

Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio said more Pasifika are embracing STEM opportunities, paving a pathway to educational success.

Now in its sixth year, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) Toloa Programme is achieving its goal of helping Pacific Aotearoa to thrive.

“Our aim has always been to see Pacific communities in Aotearoa prosper, and encouraging more people into STEM-related study and jobs is a way to do this,” said Minister Sio in a statement.

Prime Minister of Samoa and Chair of the Scholarships Committee, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Malielegaoi delivered the keynote address and hosted the reception.

Tuilaepa spoke about difficulties in the life of a scholarship recipient.

“To you the female, you must keep hold of the advice from your mother. Once you stick to the wrong friend, you will also be influenced and next you get pregnant,” he said.

Sixty-four N.U.S Foundation students were awarded with the scholarships, 29 by Australia, 32 by New Zealand and three by Samoa.

The awards will include tuition, room and board as well as assistance with immigration visas for the fortunate students.

The scholarships are an incentive from a former Samoan couple living in St George, Utah.

Faalogo Situtuila Sissy Vuki and husband Tupuola Sione Vuki have set up a programme that offers educational assistance to children of first responders at the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services and the Ministry of Police.

RNZ reports the public sector is the largest single employer of women across the Pacific but the research presented to a Commonwealth gathering in Apia on Wednesday shows they are significantly under-represented in the top jobs.

Papua New Guinea reported only 7 percent of its senior government roles were held by women but Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati were performing well with up to 50 percent, according to Nicole Haley of the Australian National University.

The scholarships are part of an initiative by Digicel to improve and expand the knowledge of IT studies as well create more experts in Information Technology in Samoa.

Tuilaepa Sailele Lupesoliai Malielegaoi made the comment to more than 90 scholarship awardees present at the official intake today at the National University of Samoa.

Deputy High Commissioner Rosemary Mckay met with the students this week and wished them all the best with their studies.

Eight students qualified through the Foundation programme at the National University of Samoa and will undertake undergraduate studies.