Scholarship Division

DEPARTMENT OF ADULT AND HIGHER EDUCATION 

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Contents

• Introduction

• Overview

• Rationale

• Activities & Programmes

• Program Impact

• Scholarship Funding

Introduction:

Welcome to the Scholarship Division, Department of Adult & Higher Education!

The Scholarship Division (SD) administers the entire Undergraduate Scholarship Programme for the class XII- passed Bhutanese students selected by the Government to study outside the country.

This is a national level human resource development activity which provides avenues and opportunities for potential post-secondary students to pursue their higher education programmes in various fields of science, engineering, law, medicine, education, information technology including the arts and humanity areas as prioritized by the Government.

The Scholarship Division therefore, plays a significant role in terms of providing and training the future manpower requirements in the various sectors of national economy and development of the country.

The undergraduate scholarship responsibility was transferred from the RCSC to the Ministry of Education in August, 2003 in accordance with the restructuring policy of the Government.

A government scholarship is annually offered to Class-12 passed students who meet a set of selection criteria in a course of study in various professional/technical disciplines including the humanity subjects.

Back to Contents

Overview:

• To implement about 400-500 undergraduate slots in the 9^th FYP;

• To enhance utilization of slots under GOI assistance;

• To develop linkages with outside colleges/institutions;

• To encourage excellence & pursuit of higher education ;

• To ensure continuous monitoring and success of students

• To build a pool of professionally sound HR resources;

Back to Contents

Rationale:

Due to acute shortage of scientific and technical professionals in the country since the start of the first FY plans in 1961, the long term human resource development and trainings have always received priority in all the national plans of the Royal Government.

Objectives:

• To draw in the best academic talents from across a variety of disciplines such as science, engineering medicine, agriculture, economics, computer science & IT including humanity areas.

• To encourage/inspire young students to pursue professional degree courses including arts & humanity subjects outside the country;

• To meet the socio-economic development challenges of the society through enhanced human resource capacity building initiatives.

Role of Scholarship Division:

• Look after the entire process of scholarship selection, placement/ admissions up to the completion of studies;

• Coordinate the selection of candidates to various undergraduate courses based on academic merit;

• Plan and allocate the slots requirements with the RCSC & MoHRL and other relevant ministries/ sectors and agencies.

• Facilitate the field attachment training (as part of academic curriculum) for the students relevant to the individual courses;

• Monitoring the progress and completion of undergraduate study programme by the students studying outside the country.

• Maintaining correct data/records/information and student-references on various types of scholarships and funding schemes.

Private Undergraduates Studying Outside

• Administer the registration requirements of all the private undergraduate Bhutanese students studying outside the country:

• Disburse the ‘subsidy fund’ to support the Bhutanese Students Associations activities subject to complete registration by the President of such associations.  

Selection Process

Eligible candidates are required to compete for the scholarship slots through a formal selection interview process. The Selection Committee comprise of the senior members representing the relevant ministries/sectors/agencies. Selection for a scholarship is based on the academic merit from amongst the eligible lot of candidates competing for the government scholarships abroad as per the media announcement to study abroad.

 Back to Contents

Activities & Progammes:

Liaising & Coordination with various sectors/ministries

• Meeting with Indian Embassy (GOI)

• Meeting with RCSC & MoHRL

• Meeting with Royal University of Bhutan

• Meeting with CCO

• Meeting with other relevant sectors

• Meeting with RCSC on SDS fund

Selection Interview for undergraduate programme

• Announcement -2005

• Tabulate results & merit ranking

• Pre-Selection

• Selection Interview  

• Post Selection

Placement/Admission of students  

• Processing of applications

• Reaching the GOI & RGoB applications to Delhi

• Placement of students to various institutions

Monitoring of Students

• Monitor the progress of students through student contacts

• Check on study completion by undergraduates

• Assess the academic performance of students

• Contact with students Periodical visit to colleges

Establish linkages

• Develop institutional tie-ups and linkages

• Facilitate placement/admissions

• Liaising with outside institutions

• Establish contacts & links

• Exchange visit programs

School visits

• Visit to MSS  & HSS schools:

• Sensitize teachers & students on various scholarships

• Educate on the importance of subject combinations

• Create awareness on higher education and academic/professional careers

• Dissiminate information on study opportunities outside the country

Scholarship Guidelines

• Work on Scholarship Guidelines

• Review the existing guidelines

• Incorporate new ideas

• Make it more comprehensive Printing & publn.

Field attachment

• Arrange field attachment for ongoing students

• Facilitate industrial training for students

• Request the agencies to accept the students

Registration of students

• Registration of private students

• Registration of BSAs

Disburse the stipends/funds

• Stipends/allowances  to the students

• Stipends/allowances

• Subsidy fund- BSAs

Scholarship queries/services

• Attending to the  continuous queries  & feedbacks

• Students & parents

• Feedback of students

• Authorities/RGoB

Back to Contents

Program Impact:

• Equip our future citizens with transferable skills, knowledge and abilities, thus, enabling them to compete in the employment market - public, private and corporate sectors/agencies;

• Ensure steady supply technically/professionally sound graduates to the different sectors of national economy.

• Support the socio-economic development activities through undergraduate HRD training programs.

Current Undergraduate Students Studying Abroad as of October 2004