CAMBODIAN RECIPIENTS OF DOST SCHOLARSHIPS ARRIVE IN MANILA
Three (3) of the ten (10) graduate scholars from Cambodia arrived in Manila last week to take up their respective graduate studies in the Manila campus of the University of the Philippines. They are the first batch of Cambodians awarded by the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) with full scholarships on science and engineering.
The three (3) graduate students are Dr. Keo Nariroth (Master of Science in Clinical Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology), Mr. Nam Samoun (Master of Science in Public Health- Environmental Health) and Mr. An Dayuth (Master of Science in Public Health-Nutrition), who have all chosen to enroll at UP Manila -- widely acknowledged as the premier state institution of higher learning in the country for the health sciences.
Along with fifty (50) trainings on science and engineering, the ten (10) scholarships for Cambodians were announced by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his State Visit to Cambodia in December 2016. They were part of initiatives of the Philippine Government to mark the 60th anniversary of Philippines-Cambodia diplomatic relations.
These training and scholarships were supported through the Philippines’ commitment to the ASEAN Science-Technology-Innovation (STI) Partnership Contributions to further enhance STI collaboration and capacity in ASEAN, particularly through the ASEAN-help-ASEAN scheme for Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar.
Dr. Keo Nariroth (left photo), Mr. An Dayuth and Mr. Nam Samoun (right photo) pose in front of landmarks of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Manila.
Dr. Keo expressed appreciation to the Philippine government for the scholarship stating that "it’s not just a scholarship, but an honor abundant with underlying opportunities that I have never expected to get. It will definitely come in handy as I am able to attend one of the premier universities in the Philippines - the UP Manila. More importantly, it is a privilege to be considered one of the DOST-ASEAN researchers. I truly believe there will be more opportunities ahead waiting for me, as well as the ASEAN scholars. I will forever be grateful."
Seven (7) more Cambodian scholars are scheduled to arrive in the capital later this year to take up their masters in engineering at the Ateneo De Manila, Dela Salle University, and UP Los Baños.
"This Philippine support for Cambodia's human resource development is in keeping with our thrust towards a people-centered relationship between the Philippines and Cambodia," said Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia, Christopher B. Montero. "We continue to work for the increase in people-to-people exchanges, especially among the youth, scientists, tourists, artists, and businessmen," he added. END
