I am pleased to announce that Nelson Mandela has agreed that Australian
Development Scholarships awarded to South Africans will now be known as
the Australian Mandela Scholarships.
The Australian Government will offer 20 scholarships, worth $A1.3 million
(5.2 million Rand), to South Africa under the Australia Mandela Scholarship
Scheme.
The awards will be offered to academic staff and administrators at South
African higher education institutions and will be for post graduate study
at Australian Universities at Masters level.
The scholarships are a key initiative of Australia's Capacity Building programme
with South Africa and are designed to provide staff at South African Technikons
with the opportunity to upgrade their skills and qualifications.
Australia recognises the importance of education to economic and social
development in South Africa and will continue to be actively involved in
working with South Africa in this sector.
I will meet a number of this year's Mandela Scholarship nominees at a reception
following the investiture of former President Nelson Mandela with Australia's
highest honour, the Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia.
The investiture will take place at the Australian High Commissioner's Residence
in Pretoria on 15 November and will be my last official function before
departure for Australia.