HE Katja Christina Nordgaard with AIT students.
(NMFA) has annually sponsored 40 students from Myanmar to further their
Master’s level studies at AIT in Thailand. Addressing a gathering of
NMFA-supported students from Myanmar, the ambassador also met some
students from Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR who are funded by Norway.As a former ambassador to Myanmar, she spoke of her great fondness for
the country and its people whom she said are now “extremely keen to
catch up and learn” through educational opportunities. The ambassador
also introduced elements of life in Norway, telling the students it
would be good if they could maintain a connection to her country in the
future.
“It’s clear that Myanmar needs professional human capital,” said the
envoy, adding that she was happy that the scholarship recipients to AIT
included strong representation from the country’s various ethnic groups
and women.
The coveted NMFA scholarship program attracts a high degree of
interest in Myanmar every year, with less than 10 percent of applicants
receiving a scholarship. The final batch of forty students has been
selected and will enroll at AIT in the August 2014 semester, AIT
Admissions Office officials said.
Ambassador Nordgaard added how pleased she was to meet with the young
Myanmar scholars for the third time, and asked them all to do their
best to work for peace and to apply their knowledge and skills for the
positive development of their country. She also offered some advice:
“Young people can make a difference by making their voices heard.
Decide where and how you want to make a difference in Myanmar and go
for it.”
Ambassador Nordgaard was accompanied on her visit by Mr. Erik Svedahl,
Minister Counsellor and Dr. Chatri Moonstan, Senior Program Officer,
Royal Norwegian Embassy, Bangkok.
