Ireland has offered post graduate scholarships to Ugandan mid-career professionals to sharpen their skill to help their community get out of poverty.
“Since 1995 when Uganda first participated in the programme, we have funded over 250 fellows. This year we will fund 24 candidates who will study in Ireland, in Uganda and other countries in East Africa like Tanzania in areas such as law, business administration, education, public health, gender, and development studies. It is a testament to the calibre of candidates coming from Uganda that year on year Uganda obtains the largest share of scholarships awarded by Irish Aid globally under the Fellowship Training Programme? said Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda, Mr. Dónal Cronin.
Speaking on Thursday August 25, 2016 at a reception in honour of the awarded Ugandan students, Mr Cronin said the fellowers are to undertake study in Ireland and within the East and Southern Africa region.
The students were funded under the Government of Ireland’s Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme (FTP), Cronin noted.
Adding, “The Government of Ireland’s Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme (FTP) has been in existence for over 40 years. Every year, fellowships are awarded to candidates from Irish Aid’s partner countries to address specific capacity gaps in partner organisations within specific sectors and crosscutting areas that Irish Aid is engaged in.
He further explained, “The programme targets mid-career professionals who, on completion of their studies, return home to resume work and put their acquired knowledge and skills into practice for the benefit of their organisation and country.”
He further commended those fellows from Karamoja for their achievement.
“I am delighted that a significant number of our fellows this year come from Karamoja. As some of you might know, Karamoja receives over 50 percent of our development funding. I have no doubt that with the acquired knowledge and skills you will gain in the course of your studies that there is an even brighter future ahead for the Karamojong” Mr. Cronin said.
He encouraged the fellows, on completion of their studies, to join the Uganda Irish Alumni Association (UIAA) which was launched in June 2014.
“All people who have studied in Ireland, whether Ugandan or other nationalities, are welcome to become members of the Alumni Network. Students who have also been funded by the Irish Government to study In-Region are also welcome to join. Most importantly the UIAA provides a forum for members to continue their engagement and friendship with the island of Ireland which it is hoped will last a lifetime.
Among the activities supported by the UIAA are networking opportunities, forging cultural links between Ireland and Uganda as well as promoting Ireland as a destination for higher education study.
Mr. Cronin informed the group that Ireland is increasingly becoming a destination for international students.
“Since 2012, there has been an increase of 25 percent in the number of international students choosing to study in Ireland as a result of the country’s worldwide reputation for high quality education. According to Enterprise Ireland, Ireland’s knowledge intensive export economy makes it a perfect fit for students seeking to gain internationally recognised qualifications in dynamic growth sectors, including ICT and life sciences. Adding, “ For those studying in Ireland you can therefore be assured that you are gaining a qualification with a global reputation as well as enjoying the rich and diverse cultural experiences that Ireland has to offer.