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Wednesday 19 May 2021 11:47am

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The recipients of the New Zealand Scholarship with representatives from Otago's International Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Absent: Darryl Pupi and Montira Intason.

For the recipients of the New Zealand Scholarship, studying at Otago gives them the opportunity to return home and make a difference in their communities.

For Darryl Pupi, of Samoa, studying at Otago a second time means he can continue to make a difference in the Pacific. This is the second NZ Scholarship he has received.

When he first came to Otago in 2012 as an undergraduate he was looking for his place in the world.

“I remember wanting to study something that would make a difference.”

He ended up completing a Bachelor of Science majoring in Human Nutrition before returning to Samoa, where he worked for the Ministry of Health as a nutritionist and was contracted by the United Nations as a nutrition consultant.

Now he is studying his Master of Applied Science in Advanced Nutrition Practice and is completing his final placement at the Centre for Public Health Research.

“I now not only want to make a difference for myself or Samoa – I want to help the whole Pacific region.”

“One of the best ways for us to achieve sustainable development is through building the knowledge and skills of individuals who then return home and make a difference to their communities and countries.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement) Professor Tony Ballantyne says the completing students, like their predecessors, will go on to do very important work in the world – taking the skills and experience they’ve gained at Otago and use them to make society better.

“The New Zealand Scholarships are a mutually beneficial opportunity between the University of Otago and the scholars who study with us to make lasting connections on both academic and personal levels. They go towards strengthening relationships between our countries both now and in the future.”

The objective of the New Zealand Aid Programme, run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), is to support sustainable development in developing countries to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world.

The New Zealand Scholarship aims to build potential leaders through increasing the knowledge and skills of individuals and communities through supporting study at world-class New Zealand universities. It offers full scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate academic study in New Zealand and in the Pacific.

High Commissioner to Samoa Dr Trevor Matheson represented MFAT at the ceremony. He reflected on the tough year the students had in 2020 being separated from their families by borders and studying during the COVID-19 pandemic and through lockdown.

“This ceremony is not just a ceremony of your hard work but a celebration of your resilience. Of the resilience you have shown this year. It’s a testament to your enduring character and you should be very, very proud of how much you have achieved during this unsettling and most challenging of times.”

Dr Matheson says what the students choose to do next matters – they return home with new perspectives, knowledge and skills. He says to use those to return home and give their countries the future they deserve.

“One of the best ways for us to achieve sustainable development is through building the knowledge and skills of individuals who then return home and make a difference to their communities and countries.”

The 11 NZ Scholarship recipients, who plan to graduate this year hail from Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, China, Vanuatu, The Philippines, Indonesia and Kiribati. Among them there are scholars in health sciences and business who will all leave New Zealand with the intention to improve their communities in different ways.

New Zealand Scholarship Completion recipients:

Betty Massing: Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health – Vanuatu

Darryl Pupi: Master of Applied Science – Advanced Nutrition Practice – Samoa

Euta Ezra Collins: Bachelor of Science – majoring in Computer Science – Samoa

I Putu Surya Utama: Master of Entrepreneurship – Indonesia

Johannes Magpusao: PhD – Food Science – The Philippines

Lucy David: Master of Applied Science – Applied Geology – Papua New Guinea

Marou Tikataake: Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health – Kiribati

Montira Intason: PhD – Tourism – Thailand

Risa Rezki Permatasari: Master of Science – Geophysics – Indonesia

Tsani Rakhman: PhD – Geography – Indonesia

Yu Zhang: PhD – English – China

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