AUSTRALIA AWARDS 2012 INTAKE
Australian Scholarships for Africa program 2010-15
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Australian Agency for International
Development (AusAID)
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GRM International is the managing agent
contracted by AusAID to assist with the delivery of
the Australia Awards in Africa.
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Australian Development Scholarships (ADS)
Australian Leadership Awards Fellowships
(ALAF)
Further information on the ALAF and the list
of eligible countries is available at:
www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/alafellow.cfm.
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Government’s increased engagement in Africa
◦ Scale of assistance and geographic coverage
Support for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
where we have expertise and can build on existing
support:
agriculture and food security
maternal and child health
water and sanitation
natural resource management (including mining)
public sector reform
human resource capacity building (incl. 1000 scholarships
per year by 2012-13 across Africa, and support through
Australia-Africa Partnerships Facility)
◦ additional areas of demand within the MDGs
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Scale-up is already underway:
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Scholarships Program in (2009):
- 12 countries and 100+ awards in southern and
eastern Africa
- mainly public sector focus
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New program (2010 onwards):
- 2010: 19 countries and 250+ awards
- 2011: 25 countries and 400 awards with focus to
gradually extend to private sector and civil society,
though main focus will continue to be public sector
- 2012-13: 40+ countries and 1000 awards
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a five-year program commencing in September 2010 – potentially
open to all countries in Africa on a competitive basis – with 1,000
awards being delivered annually by 2012-13;
a dual objective of supporting Africa’s progress towards the MDGs
while advancing Australia’s foreign policy priorities;
a sectoral focus driven by African partner governments’ own
priorities but which also increases Australia’s profile in Africa by
offering awards in sectors where Australia has expertise;
Best practice mechanisms to ensure the right candidates are
selected who will provide leadership in their countries, with ongoing
access to strong alumni arrangements to ensure sustainability.
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Scholarships a key component of the enhanced
engagement:
◦ underpin many (existing and new) bilateral
relationships
◦ equip Africans with skills and knowledge to drive
change
◦ increase Australia’s profile in Africa by
showcasing expertise
◦ promote people-to-people links (public sector,
and increasingly private sector and civil society)
◦ demonstrate responsiveness to partner
government priorities
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Strong reputation of Australian Government
scholarships in Africa
◦ over 3600 awards provided in Africa since the
1960’s
◦ Over 600 registered alumni
◦ highly valued commodity
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The goal and four objectives of the Africa Program 20102015 are:
Program Goal
A Study and Professional Development Award program
contributing to achievement of MDGs in Africa while
promoting Australia as an active partner in African
development.
Award program objectives
To meet the goal the program will provide African managers
and practitioners with access to Australian-standard
educational, training or professional development
opportunities which better equip them to lead or support
achievement of the following four objectives:
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Objective 1
AusAID alumni within African government agencies develop and apply sound
policy and practice relevant to designated sectors, particularly in specified
sub-sectors, and in additional areas of demand.
Objective 2
AusAID Alumni within African non-profit civil society and African
development organisations develop and apply sound operational policy and
practice, including collaborative engagement, relevant to designated sectors,
particularly in specified sub-sectors.
Objective 3
AusAID alumni within African commercial private sector organisations
develop and apply sound corporate policy and practice, including industry
linkages, relevant to designated sectors, particularly in specified sub-sectors.
Objective 4
Recognition of Australia as an active partner in African development.
Inclusive of all ethnic and racial groups
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Organisational category
AFRICAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES:
Sector / theme
Sub-sector focus
Public Policy
Public Sector Reform; Public Financial
Mang.’t; Diplomacy; Trade
Food Security
Agriculture; Fisheries; Biosecurity
Natural Resource Management
Mining; Drilling; Extractive
Industries; Environmental Manag.’t
Maternal and Child Health Care
Water and Sanitation
Additional Areas of Demand
within the MDGs
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Organisational category
AFRICAN NON-PROFIT CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEVELOPMENT
ORGANISATIONS AFRICAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES:
Sector / theme
Sub-sector focus
Food Security
Agriculture; Fisheries
Natural Resource Management
Mining; Drilling; Extractive
Industries; Environmental Mang.’t
Maternal and Child Health Care
Water and Sanitation
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Organisational category
AFRICAN COMMERCIAL PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANISATIONS:
Sector / theme
sub-sector focus
Food Security
Agriculture; Fisheries
Natural Resource Management
Mining; Drilling; Extractive
Industries; Environmental
Mang.’t
Water and Sanitation
◦ Diversified mix of awards:
 Long-term awards (LTAs)
 Masters and small number of PhDs
 Short course awards (SCAs)
 up to 3 months, including technical vocational
education and training (TVET)
 Professional development awards (PDAs)
 up to 3 months, primarily work attachments
(minimum 70% of each award)
◦ Scope for in-Africa delivery (of LTAs and SCAs,
through registered Australian
universities/training providers) as program
evolves – but not a primary focus
◦ Better targeting through Desired Applicant
Profiles (DAPs)
◦ Better sustainability through Reintegration Plans
◦ Stronger alumni mechanisms
◦ Improved access and equity provisions
◦ Communications strategy
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The awards are delivered in cooperation with partner African Governments.
Amongst other things, partner governments assist in disseminating
information about award opportunities to potential applicants.
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The Australian Government is also developing a series of regional and
country-level networks to help promote the program. Network partners will
be asked to disseminate information about award opportunities to potential
high quality applicants in the focus sectors.
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Three component partner networks are involved in program implementation:
◦ Partner Government Networks
◦ Civil Society Partner Networks
◦ Private Sector Partner Networks
 Senior Reference Group (SRG):
 AusAID (Chair), DFAT, DIAC, Austrade
 Guide implementation of program (incl. ensure responsiveness to
African Gov’t requests, and emerging Australian Gov’t foreign
policy priorities)
 Oversight of geographical distribution of awards
 Will initially meet twice per year
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Between January and March of each year, information about the
Australian Development Scholarships available is disseminated to
potential applicants calling for Preliminary Applications.
The process of promoting the program varies from country to
country. It can involve public advertising, direct notification of
relevant ministries and departments, and use of other partners incountry to send out information to potential candidates. All
opportunities are listed on the website: www.adsafrica.com.au
Short-listing and final selections exercises take place between
April and August of each year. These processes are conducted by
independent panels appointed by the Australian Government and
include face-to-face interviews with short-listed candidates.
ADS may include a period of preparation training such as English
language training. Students must achieve satisfactory results in
this training to be able to continue their scholarships.
Students are provided with scholarship entitlements, which include:
◦ A contribution to living expenses to assist students in meeting every day living costs such as
accommodation, food, entertainment, etc
◦ Tuition fees
◦ Airfares, which includes a return economy class airfare for the student from the home
country to Australia. Entitlement for an annual reunion airfare is limited to those students
who do not have any of their immediate family accompanying them to Australia and only
takes effect once they have successfully completed their first year of study.
◦ An establishment allowance to contribute towards expenses such as rental bonds, text
books, study materials, additional medical insurance, home contents insurance and excess
baggage upon return home.
◦ Health cover
◦ Some overseas fieldwork travel costs.
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Students may be entitled to bring their family with them to Australia, however this will depend
on the policy of the home government amongst other things.
Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) are offered for the total period considered
necessary for the student to achieve the qualification being sought. This includes the period
required for preparatory programmes. Students are expected to complete their course within
the minimum time specified by the institution.
Students are required to return to their country of citizenship after the completion of their
award to contribute to the development of the identified priority sector in their country.
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Provide a single and key contact point for AusAID and the Managing Contractor
including in agreeing sectoral priorities and ensuring the selection process
proceeds smoothly and in a timely fashion;
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Advise on suitable promotion strategies and support advertising through relevant
line Ministries and other networks;
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Review shortlisted public sector applicants to verify their information and claims;
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Participate as observers at interviews;
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Administer domestic arrangements for public sector awardees (this can include
the provision of study leave, the holding opened of positions for awardees upon
their return and bonding arrangements to ensure return to workplaces); and
Participate in pre-departure briefings.
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The Australian Development Scholarships available are
for Masters level studies in Australia. Students need to
commence studies in the 2012 calendar year.
This will either be the actual Masters level course or
English Language Training.
The selection process is opening now and will close on
31 May 2011.
Applicants may be from the public sector, private sector
or civil society.
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We are looking for applicants who will meet
Australian academic institution requirements
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Scholarship will need people with a high level of
English proficiency to participate in lectures
delivered in English – writing, reading, listening
and talking skills all required.
Scholarship can provide English Language Training
but candidates will need to have reasonable
existing English skills.
In applications we are looking for people to
demonstrate that they have these existing English
skills via current IELTS/TOEFL tests; by previous
studies (e.g. Bachelor’s degree) in English
language; by current jobs in English speaking
environment.
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We will shortlist candidates with English language
skills ahead of those who cannot demonstrate
English language skills.
We will test all people who we interview to assess
the exact level of English to determine whether we
offer them a scholarship or English Language
Training.
Those who are offered English Language Training
may subsequently be offered a scholarships if they
reach the minimum university English language
requirements.
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Universities require candidates to have
significant periods usually between 4-6 years
post Bachelors degree work experience.
Australian Masters level courses draw heavily
on a students practical experience so
universities will not accept students without
significant work experience.
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What Australian Government requires
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Development scholarships are given to people who are most
likely to return and make a development contribution in Africa.
Part of the application process involves employers signing a plan
for how their employees will use their studies in their workplace
on return. This is easier in the public sector. Often private sector
and civil society applicants will need to give up their employment
to take up the scholarship.
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The main point though is that we do not want to invest in people
who are unlikely to use their degrees on return.
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Their current employment also strengthens their ability to meet
the university’s post graduate work experience requirements.
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Advertising and Submission of Preliminary
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Application Forms (PAFs)
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Paper Selection
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Selection Interviews
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University Application Process
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Visa Application Process
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Restrictions
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Desired Applicant Profile
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Department of Immigration and Citizenship
(DIAC): www.immi.gov.au
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Australian Scholarships:
http://www.australianscholarships.gov.au
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Study in Australia
http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au
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Scholarships opportunities in Africa:
www.adsafrica.com.au
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Alumni: www.adsafrica.com.au/alumni.php
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Queensland
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Bond University
The University of Queensland
James Cook University
Queensland University of Technology
University of Sunshine Coast
Griffith
New South Wales
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Macquarie University
Charles Sturt University
University of Technology Sydney
University of New England
The University of Newcastle
Southern Cross University
The University of Sydney
Australian Catholic University
The University of New South Wales
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Victoria
• Swinburne University of Technology
• The University of Melbourne
• RMIT University
• Monash University
• La Trobe University
• Deakin University Australia
• Victoria University
• University of Ballarat
Tasmania
 University Maritime College
 University of Tasmania
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South Australia
 Carnegie Mellon
 Flinders University
 The University of Adelaide
 University of South Australia
Western Australia
 Murdoch University
 Curtin University of Technology
 Edith Cowan University
 The University of Western Australia
 The University of Notre Dame Australia
Northern Territory
• Charles Darwin University
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Public Policy
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Agriculture/Food Security
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Mining; Drilling; Extractive Industries; Environmental Management
Health
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Fisheries
Agro-Forestry
Natural Resource Management
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Public administration
Trade/international trade
Diplomacy
Public Sector Forum
Management of public private partnerships
Other public policy fields formally recognised to be of national or regional priority
Maternal & Child Healthcare
HIV/Aids
Technical fields such as pharmacy, dietetics and laboratory science and management
Policy Implementation
Information Management and Use of ICT
e-health
Water & Sanitation
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Applicants are to register for a user name and password at
https://oasis.ausaid.gov.au
Applicants may log in to the application form as many times as they wish
with their user name and password, until midnight Australian Eastern
Standard Time on 31 May 2011 when access will no longer be available.
Alternatively, applicants may download a hard copy of the Preliminary
Application Form from www.adsafrica.com.au. The same deadline
applies.
A Desired Applicant Profile outlining the conditions applicants will need
to meet to be considered for these Masters level scholarships is
provided. Applicants need to carefully read the information given in
Australia Awards for the (Country) Information Pack – click there to
download it in Microsoft Word 1997-2003 format, or click there for PDF
format
 Applications
are to be sent direct from the
candidates to the Managing Contractor (including
by completing the on-line application form) by
31 May 2011.
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Managing Contractor will assess all
applications for compliance.
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Non-compliant applications will be rejected.
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Coordinating Authority will be informed of
all compliant public sector applicants.
The information AusAID would be seeking includes:
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the respective importance of each candidates proposed studies
to the priorities;
the ability of the employer to release the candidate for long term
studies (which with English Language Training can mean an
absence of three years);
a character check to make sure the applicants are legitimate
nationals without any criminal records or criminal charges
pending.
While the Coordinating Authority is providing the feedback on
the compliant candidates the Managing Contractor will be
shortlisting to identify who we will interview.
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The Managing Contractor will liaise with short listed applicants to
arrange for a face to face interview.
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These interviews will take place in late June or early July 2011. Interviews
will be conducted in three locations: Accra, Nairobi and Pretoria.
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Candidates will be competing across a regional pool of scholarships,
with applicants from up to 38 African countries.
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Interviews will be conducted in English and there will be a written test
also in English.
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At this point candidates will also take a formal IELTS/TOEFL test which
will be included as part of the assessment process.
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They will also be given information on what the contract they will be
asked to sign if they are successful means, how to apply for courses at
Australian institutions and how to complete visa application forms.
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The Coordinating Authority will be informed of all public sector candidates who
have been successful.
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At this point the Coordinating Authority provides final verification that the
successful interviewees are suitable to be offered a development scholarship.
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Any objections to a particular applicant from a Coordinating Authority needs to
be based on valid reasons which will need to be provided to the Australian
Government for their consideration.
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Once any objections are resolved, the Managing Contractor will contact the
applicants to make them a formal development scholarship offer.
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The Coordinating Authority may need to assist the Awardees with internal
processes such as accessing study leave.
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The successful applicants will need to sign a contract with the Australian
Government.
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The contract provides the entitlements as long as the student:
Is offered a place in an Australian academic institutions for a Masters level course
(we will support students in being offered a place at up to three institutions. If
they are rejected three times however the scholarship offer is withdrawn)
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Is granted a visa by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship
(this will include a complete medical check).
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These processes can take three months or more after the paperwork is submitted,
so we encourage students to complete their paperwork promptly.
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Students need to complete university application forms and visa forms
themselves.
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Our Managing Contractor will take care of lodgement and liaison on the
paperwork processing.
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The successful applicants will be invited to a Pre Departure
Briefing (PDBs)
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PDBs set out all of the requirements of the scholars and the
entitlements of the scholarships.
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PDBs explain what students can expect from living in Australia
and studying at an Australian academic institution.
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PDBs will occur in September and October 2011.
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PDBs are delivered in ‘hubs’ – central locations: the most likely
locations will be Accra, Cairo, Maputo, Nairobi, Pretoria, Port
Louis (where there are Australian Missions) and either Lusaka or
Lilongwe (as the accredited Australian mission is in Harare)
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Australian academic institutions have two student intakes a year,
Semester 1 in January and Semester 2 in June.
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Students will receive an Introductory Academic Program to help
prepare them for their studies during January or June.
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Those needing English Language Training will need to undertake
these studies before they are offered a scholarship.
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The timing of their English Language Training will be managed to
meet the January and June intakes.
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The maximum amount of English Language Training available is
one year.
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The maximum length of a Masters degree is two years.