Since 1960, over 3,500 students from

Africa have studied at Australian

universities under scholarship programs

funded by the Australian Government.

Currently, the Australian Development

Scholarship program in Africa is

mobilizing its 2008 intake of

scholarship students. The 2008 intake

will see an additional 98 scholarship

candidates from twelve countries in east

and southern Africa attending various

institutions in Australia. The courses

they will study are at masters level and

cover a variety of fields including health,

agriculture, environment, law and public

administration.

We wish them all well in their studies

over the next two years.

We are very proud of the impact our

scholarship program has on the careers

of scholarship recipients and the

development of the countries from which

they come. For instance, 74% of

scholarship recipients from Africa

surveyed in 2005 indicated they had

received a promotion since returning

from the scholarships (68% of these are

males and 81% females). As such, we

see the scholarship program as an

important part of relationship building

between Australia and partner countries.

Recognizing this, we are introducing this

year a number of measures to

support the recipients of our

scholarships when they return to

their own countries. As part of the

annual alumni functions, we will be

offering alumni the chance to

attend short (one or two day)

executive level courses on public

sector management and leadership.

We will also be offering alumni the

opportunity to apply for further

alumni-only scholarship study

opportunities in Australia. And we

will be giving the alumni the

opportunity to apply to the

Australian Government’s small

grants scheme for support in

introducing innovations in their

workplaces as a results of their

studies in Australia. Further

information on these measures will

be sent to registered alumni in the

near future.

We urge all alumni to register with

us via the ‘Alumni’ page of the

A D S A f r i c a w e b s i t e

www.adsafrica.com.au or by

contacting GRM International on

phone +27 12 362 4360 or fax +27

12 362 4361.

Matthew Williams

AusAID Head in Africa speaks

ADS AFRICA

S E P T E M B E R I S S U E 4

AusAID Head in Africa speaks 1

ADS Africa: An extended program and a new office

2

Study in Australia and make things happen at home

3

Experience of Moshiane Maseko in Australia

4

Inside this issue:

It is with great pleasure that we can inform our readers

that the ADS contract between AusAID and GRM

International is being extended for another two years.

Our program is growing steadily and for the 2008-

intake our student numbers will increase by 25%.

Of course the expansion required more hands on deck

and therefore we were in the fortunate position to have

appointed Leanne as Program Coordinator and Otsile

and Mpai as Program Assistants. We are also

expecting one more staff member to join us in

November 2007. Since the office we previously

occupied was getting too small, we also had to move

to larger premises in the building next to GRM. Our

new open plan office has a friendly environment with

a lovely balcony to go out and take in fresh African

air.

Other exciting news is that the Republics of Botswana

and Rwanda will now be included in our group,

bringing the number of participating countries to 12.

Our ADS Africa countries are now Botswana, Kenya,

Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda,

South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

ADS Africa New Office

A D S A F R I C A I S S U E 4

From left, sitting: Lerato Tau, Otsile Modise and Leanne van Zyl;

from left, standing: Mpai Mphungoa and Elsa-Marie van Schalkwyk.

Welcome on board to Leanne who joined in August as a Program Coordinator, Otsile and

Mpai in June as Programme Assistants.

To make things a little bit easier we have decided to

mult-skill by dividing the countries amongst the staff.

Leanne will be responsible for Kenya, Rwanda ,

Tanzania and Uganda; Lerato for Lesotho, Namibia and

South Africa; Otsile for Botswana, Malawi and Zambia

and Mpai for Mozambique and Swaziland.

Exciting expansions and brand new office

notwithstanding, the ADS team has pulled together and

we are happy to announce that once again we have

submitted all our ADS applications to the institutions

before the deadline date of 15 September 2007!

Kind regards

Elsa-Marie van Schalkwyk

ADS Africa Program Manager

I am a Tanzanian pursuing a Masters in Environmental

Management at Flinders University, Adelaide, South

Australia.

The introductory Academic Program (IPA) at the start of

my studies as an AusAID student was most helpful to

assist me to catch up with the Australian education

system and the lifestyle in Australia.

The well developed Australian education system allows

one to have exposure to various learning mediums such

as seminars, workshops, tutorials, excursions and a wide

range of lecture media facilities.

Various excursions have given me the practical

experience to learn new technologies and management of

wetlands, beaches, marine environment as well as

environmentally sustainable housing. The Australian

policy for Ecologically Sustainable Development is

aimed at reducing the country’s ecological footprint at a

significant level.

Australian cities have efficient infrastructure systems in

place with great accessibility to water supplies, hospitals,

schools and a very efficient public transport system. The

convenient public transport is not only effective but also

allows the Australian Government to achieve its goal for

cutting off greenhouse gas emissions to their optimum

levels.

In the 9-month period that I have been in Australia I

have had the opportunity to learn and experience various

cultures, lifestyles and values from people of different

backgrounds such as America, Asia, Europe and other

African countries.

Study in Australia and make things happen at home!!

A D S A F R I C A I S S U E 4

I would like to take this opportunity to send my

gratitude to the Australian Government for offering me

this turning point in my life through an ADS

Scholarship. My thanks also go out to those who were

involved in the processing of my application and travel

arrangements.

I can truly say I will return to Tanzania from this

opportunity to help assist in the implementation of my

country’s millennium goals to alleviate poverty and

fostering economic growth through environment

management.

From Left to right: International student from Laos,

Elaine Kane (AusAID Liaison Officer) and Mr. Bertin

Mushy (AusAID Student).

Bertin Mushy, Flinders University

Academic and social challenges

Australia is a paperless environment. Most of the

correspondence and school related issues are done

electronically. I struggled in the beginning but soon

found the hang of it. Another challenge was time

constraints, as I had to design a model regarding my

studies, which was unfamiliar to me. On the social side

it was not easy to adapt to the very hot weather in

Brisbane. The dress code of mini-skirts and shorts was

not easy to wear, but when the heat was at its highest

peak, I followed suit.

To wrap up, I would like to thank God, AusAID, the

DTI and the people who happened to cross my path for

my newly acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes to

the social, political and economical environment which

will allow me to contribute successfully to South

Africa.

From Left: Kelly Lin, Dr Noel Scott and Moshiane

Maseko, Australian National University.

Organizations have visions, missions, people, material

as well as physical resources, cultures, values, long

and short term goals. As a result, organizational

structures are designed to achieve the goals of the

organization in a focused and cost effective way.

Therefore, it is important to continuously equip and

strengthen employees knowledge and skills. This

practice holds particular significance in trying to adapt

to the ever challenging work situation and modern

terms.

The AusAID scholarship was an answer to the above

scenario, which was facilitated by the Department of

Trade and Industry (DTI), South Africa Learning

Centre and AdsAfrica, Pretoria. The recipient of this

invitation was Moshiane Maseko, and herewith

follows my humble story coupled with experiences to

the culture, social and academic challenges.

Embrace cultural challenges with compassion:

Being the first time for me, traveling abroad, was a

cultural shock in a way. I was exposed to different

ethnic groups, e.g. Latinos, Tonga, Vanuatu Island

people, Indigenous Fijians, Asians etc. I became open

minded and started to accept different cultures and

befriended them. I started to learn a little bit of the

Island language.

Spiritual Growth

I was lucky enough to meet a person who exposed me

to a deeper meaning of living, reading the bible and

prayer groups. These made my stay in Australia more

meaningful. Different religions such as Muslim and

Hindus are now closer to me and I learned the power

of the Holy Spirit.

A D S A F R I C A

Experiences from Australia

From Left to right: Kelly Lin, Dr Noel Scott and Mrs. Moshiane

Maseko (ADS AKelly Lin

frica AlumnuKelly Lin

s)

I S S U E 4