For Immediate Release
Press Release
Bangkok, Thailand – February 29, 2024: The U.S. government, in partnership with higher education institutions in Thailand and the region, celebrated the launch of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program for students from Myanmar.
The five-year initiative provides opportunities for over 1,000 students from Myanmar to pursue higher education in Thailand and the region, in addition to online programs through the University of Arizona. With a focus on Myanmar’s most marginalized and vulnerable people, this scholarship will foster academic excellence and empower the next generation of leaders to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
According to Chargé d`Affaires Susan Stevenson, “With 45% of the country’s population under age 25, Myanmar risks creating a “lost generation” of youth. The Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program is one way the United States is trying to help prevent that from happening.”
“This scholarship program is a strategic investment in higher education institutions in the region,” said USAID Assistant Administrator for Asia Michael Schiffer. “It recognizes our shared commitment to education as a catalyst for positive change in Myanmar and around the world.”
In addition to providing scholarship opportunities, USAID is also offering grants supporting institutional partnerships and other higher education opportunities to strengthen the higher education landscape in Myanmar and the surrounding region.
The Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program is part of America’s long-term investment in the people of Myanmar. To find out more about USAID’s work in Myanmar, please see www.usaid.gov/burma and follow on Facebook and Twitter at @USAIDBurma. For detailed information on the scholarship program, please visit www.usaiddisp.com.