Since the Colombo Plan in the 1950s, scholarships have been an important component of the Australian Government’s overseas aid program, supporting its aim to help developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. 

The Australian High Commissioner to the Maldives, Ms. Kathy Klugman hosted an alumni event on 21 December 2011 at Traders Hotel to congratulate the recipients of the 2012 Australian Development Scholarships. The Vice President of the Republic of the Maldives, Hon Dr. Mohamed Waheed was the Chief Guest at the event. The reception was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Mr Ahmed Naseem and the Speaker of the Parliament. The Counselor of the Australian High Commission in Colombo Mr. Edward Archibald acted as the Master of Ceremony. 

Maldives held the Pre-departure briefing for the 2012 Australian Development Scholarship awardees on 22 December 2011 at Nasandhura Palace Hotel in Male’. The briefing was attended by officials from the Australian High Commission in Colombo as well as the Maldives Government. The Objective of the meeting was to provide awardees with the necessary information about travel to, living and studying in Australia. 

Between 8:00am and 2:00pm on May 27, the South Asia Scholarships Program (SASP) office in Bhutan organized a Pre-Departure Briefing (PDB) session for eleven AusAID scholars from Intake 2011 whose studies in Australia commence in 2nd semester this year. Three SASP staff and one staff member from Druk Associates facilitated the event for the scholars and four dependents.