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Inaugural scholarship recipient to focus on Bhutan youth policy
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The first recipient of the Murdoch University Trongsa Penlop PhD Scholarship hopes his research will provide valuable insights for improving the implementation of Bhutan’s national youth policy.
Working under the guidance of Murdoch’s Indo-Pacific Research Centre in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Tshering Dorji will use an eco-systems theory framework to examine existing policy implementation practices.
Mr Dorji, who lecturers in the Department of Arts and Humanities at the Samtse College of Education at Royal Bhutan University, was chosen from a competitive pool of 70 candidates for the scholarship worth almost $250,000 over four years to cover tuition fees and a living stipend.
The comprehensive support will allow Mr Dorji to fully dedicate himself to his studies.
“My PhD research project will accentuate the national youth policy implementation: the dynamics of stakeholder partnership and issues,” he told the Bhutan Times.
“The research project will adopt eco-systems theory to analyse and consolidate our existing policy implementation roles and practices among the key stakeholders.”
Mr Dorji was presented with his scholarship at an award ceremony in Thimphu in July.
Being the first recipient of this prestigious award fills my heart with a greater sense of responsibility to serve our nation,” Mr Dorji said.
“As I receive this award, I pledge and commit to upholding the values of academic excellence, integrity, and perseverance in the field of research and contributing to our nation through research projects.”
The establishment of the Trongsa Penlop PhD Scholarship marks a significant milestone in the educational partnership between Bhutan and Murdoch University, which having enjoyed a close relationship for many years, was recognised with a prestigious award recently.
Murdoch received the Queen Mother Ashi Tseyring Pem Wangchuck Award as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Bhutan Youth Development Fund, an organization dedicated to empowering youth and fostering development in Bhutan.
We are extremely proud of our strong relationship with Bhutan and delighted to be the first choice for Bhutanese students coming to Australia," Murdoch University Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Deeks said.
Murdoch University Pro Vice-Chancellor International Kelly Smith highlighted the significance of the scholarship and the potential for further collaboration.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tshering Dorji as the first recipient of the Trongsa Penlop PhD Scholarship,” Mr Smith said.
“This scholarship program represents Murdoch University’s commitment to supporting Bhutan’s development goals by nurturing exceptional academic talent. Tshering Dorji’s research on national youth policy is a crucial area of focus, and we are confident that his findings will contribute valuable insights for policymakers.”
Mr Smith added that Murdoch would be expanding collaborations with Bhutanese institutions including Royal Thimphu College and the Royal University of Bhutan to include research partnerships with institutions like RUB, particularly in areas such as business, IT, and agriculture.
“We are committed to developing mutually beneficial partnerships with Bhutan in various fields, including projects to enhance academic capacity across the higher education sector and initiatives like the Mindfulness City project,” he said.
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Inaugural scholarship recipient to focus on Bhutan youth policy
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