Mizzima
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking to empower Myanmar youth through an education scholarship program.
The USAID Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program is a program that will run for five years. It aims to provide over 1,000 students from Myanmar with opportunities to pursue higher education in South and Southeast Asia.
The scholarship program launch was held on February 29 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The five-year initiative provides opportunities for over 1,000 students from Myanmar to pursue higher education in Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines and India, in addition to online programs through the University of Arizona. With a focus on Myanmar’s most marginalized and vulnerable people, this scholarship will foster academic excellence and empower the next generation of leaders to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
The program has a strong focus on inclusivity, particularly for Myanmar’s most under-represented, marginalized populations. Outreach and recruitment efforts target ethnic and religious minorities, women, LGBTQI+ persons, persons with disabilities, and displaced persons to increase access to quality higher education learning opportunities.
Local and regional higher education scholarships will provide in-person, virtual learning, and hybrid options for shortor long-term training to meet the needs of each scholar. Academic (Undergraduate, Master, and Doctoral) scholarships are available, as well as certificates and diplomas in multiple fields of study crucial for Myanmar’s development.
Candidates in Myanmar and the border areas will be chosen based on demonstrated leadership and contributions to Myanmar, a clear idea how their scholarship will contribute to their communities, and commitment to return to their communities to foster open dialogue and collaboration across dividing lines.
According to U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Susan Stevenson, “With 45% of the country’s population under age 25, Myanmar risks creating a ‘lost generation’ of youth. The Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program is one way the United States is trying to help prevent that from happening.”
“This scholarship program is a strategic investment in higher education institutions in the region,” said USAID Assistant Administrator for Asia Michael Schiffer. “It recognizes our shared commitment to education as a catalyst for positive change in Myanmar and around the world.”
In addition to providing scholarship opportunities, USAID is also offering grants supporting institutional partnerships and other higher education opportunities to strengthen the higher education landscape in Myanmar and the surrounding region.
The Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program is part of America’s long-term investment in the people of Myanmar.
