Initiated by the Siam Cement Foundation, the scholarships are available to students who are citizens of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

Siam Cement Foundation is under the auspices of the SCG Group, one of Thailand's largest business conglomerates with extensive regional operations. The programme is part of its regional development initiative.

The grant made available is for scholarships for the Master of Arts programme in International Development Studies for the upcoming 2007-2008 academic year.

"The scholarship fund is an investment in the people of the region," said Suranuch Thongsila, manager the Siam Cement Foundation.

Successful scholars will be able to travel, study and live in Bangkok to achieve their Master of Arts degree over a 14-month period. Upon completion of the study, Siam Cement Foundation's scholars are expected to return to work for their home governments in their respective countries.

This will allow former scholars to apply their acquired knowledge and skills for the benefit of their communities.

The programme comprises six scholarships for students from the five countries in the region at Bt518,300 each - and two scholarships for Thai nationals. The application deadline is July 13, 2007. The academic programme starts in October.

For more information, please contact by email: suranuct@cementhai.co.th or contact@siamcementfoundation.or.th or Associate Professor Chantana Banpasirichote Wungaeo, Master of Arts in International Development Studies, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University at: cwungaeo@yahoo.com or maids@chula.ac.th

Asia News Network