News

Pres. Gusmao visit: $200,000 to support East Timor students

Media Release, Friday 4 April 2003

East Timor's President, Xanana Gusmao and First Lady, Kirsty Sword-Gusmao, will visit the University of Melbourne next Monday 7 April 2003 to help promote new educational, humanitarian and cultural links between the University and East Timor.

A highlight of the visit will be the launch of the University's $200,000 support package for students in East Timor. The funding has been allocated as one of the University's 150th anniversary initiatives. It will support education programs targeted at disadvantaged female students.

The University's scholarship support will be coordinated with the Alola Foundation's Friendship Schools Project, which facilitates long-term linkages between schools in East Timor and Australia. The project and foundation were both initiated by Ms Sword-Gusmao following East Timor's independence.

Ms Sword-Gusmao will lead a forum discussing the Friendship Schools Project at 3:30pm in the University. Media are invited to the forum, which will also be attended by the President. There will be a question time at the end of the forum. Details are below.

In the evening, President Gusmao will present the University of Melbourne Chancellor's Human Rights Lecture, entitled 'Challenges for Peace and Stability'. The lecture will be the first of the University's 150th Anniversary Public Lecture Series. All tickets have been taken for this free public lecture.

The University of Melbourne's Strategic Plan clearly sets out the University's responsibility to contribute to the social, cultural and economic welfare of Asia's developing nations.

"Through targeted scholarships and bursaries, involvement in aid projects and other forms of assistance, the University of Melbourne is engaging in programs designed to increase educational opportunity, economic development and social amenity in developing societies, particularly in South-East Asia," says Vice-Principal (University Development), Roger Peacock

"The University's support for the Friendship Schools Project will help accelerate the development of a broader schools program," he says.

Mr Peacock says that the scholarship scheme is similar to one funded by the University that currently operates in rural Thailand. That scheme has, so far, helped more than 40 women complete secondary education.

"We have seen the tremendous success of this program in Thailand. In the University's 150th year, we are delighted to be able to expand the program to East Timor where we are confident it will benefit both the students and the country itself."

President Gusmao and Ms Sword Gusmao will also participate in a staff-student workshop at the University and launch two scholarships for students undertaking the Master of International Development in Melbourne University Private's School of Development Studies. Melbourne University Private will present a third scholarship to President Gusmao for an East Timorese student to attend a ten-week English language course at the Hawthorn English Language Centre, Melbourne.

President Gusmao and Ms Kirsty Sword-Gusmao
7 April itinerary:

Staff Student Workshop
Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm

MUP Scholarships Launch
Time: 3:05pm-3:20pm
Place: Rm UG 15, ICT Building, 111 Barry Street University Square

Friendship Schools Project Forum
Time: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Place: Theatre 2, ICT Building, 111 Barry Street University Square

Chancellor's Human Rights Lecture:
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Wilson Hall, University of Melbourne