THE Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has announced that Taiwan Government has donated USD$500,000 to the Pacific Islands Forum on September 19, 2016.

This funding will fully sponsor qualified students in the Pacific to pursue tertiary education.

According to the PIF Secretariat, the Taiwan/ROC-PIF Scholarship has helped 78 Pacific students achieve their desired tertiary degrees since 2001.

Citizens of Forum Island Countries (FICs), including Solomon Islands, are invited to apply for scholarships under the Taiwan/ROC-Pacific Islands Forum Scholarship Scheme.

Scholarships will be awarded for Full Time studies at certificate, diploma undergraduate or postgraduate levels within the specified priority fields.

Awards are tenable at accredited tertiary institutions in the Pacific and Taiwan/Republic of China. The list of eligible institutions is available on the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat website: http://www.forumsec.org under Funding Assistance within the Strategic Partnership and Coordination section.

The scholarship covers tuition fees, text book, living and accommodation allowances (*terms and conditions), medical allowance, and one return economy airfare to the country of study. It is important to note that there are no allowances for dependants.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS – Applicants must: be a citizen of a Forum Island Country and a resident in a Forum Island Country for five years prior to application, excluding years of study overseas; be applying to commence a new programme of study and not be seeking support for study already commenced; have been accepted into a programme of study and institution, or should show proof of application when requested. If you are provided a conditional scholarship offer, you MUST confirm an offer of placement no later than January 2017. Your offer will be suspended if you do not have a confirmed placement by this time; be under 35 years old for undergraduate courses or under 40 years old for postgraduate courses; be in good health, and not hold a criminal record; be able to take up the award within the scholarship year; Not be under any bonding requirements at the commencement of this award

Priority fields for Solomon Islands include Public Health, Climate Change and Geology. Selection will be on the basis of fulfilment of the eligibility requirements and merit within the priority fields of each country. Gender equity will also be considered.

Applicants are encouraged to obtain forms from their National Scholarship Office or download forms off the Secretariat’s website www.forumsec.org at link under Funding Assistance within Strategic Partnerships and Coordination section or collect forms from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Suva, Fiji.

Interested applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form is completed with certified supporting documents attached, ensure that the completed application is endorsed by the National Scholarship Authority and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or External Affairs) prior to submission to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

Closing Date: Applications must reach the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Private Mail Bag, Suva, FIJI; or email to info@forumsec.org by 4pm, Wednesday October 26, 2016 (Fiji time). Please clearly mark submission as ‘SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION’. Late applications will not be accepted.

The Secretariat will only contact successful applicants. Please provide contact details where you can be reached. Applicants are encouraged to select their preferred institution of study. However, the scheme makes the final decision on the selected institution of study for successful applicants.