Myanmar Scholars and Leaders Program Scholarship Application Released

The MSLP will train and support the next generation of leaders and scholars, selected from the pool of state employees, non-governmental organization workers, emerging leaders, and researchers, inclusively representing the diverse ethnic groups of Myanmar

INDIANAPOLIS, July 1, 2020 — The Burmese American Community Institute, in partnership with the Rectors’ Committee of Myanmar and leading Universities in the United States, has released a scholarship application for the 2020-2021 academic year through the Myanmar Scholars and Leaders Program (MSLP), which is created to train and support the next generation of leaders and scholars.

The MSLP aims to recruit and train diverse and promising individuals from Myanmar, in leading U.S. graduate programs—both Master’s and Ph.D. degree programs—to develop strong technical expertise, analytical skills, and leadership skills needed to assume inclusive leadership responsibilities in various ministries, departments, and sectors in Myanmar and beyond.

 “One of the most important pillars for reform and development in Myanmar is Human Resources. Myanmar needs to invest in Human Resources who are well trained in developed countries like the US, the UK, Australia, and Japan,” said Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, Chair of the Rectors’ Committee during the initial launching ceremony of the MSLP.

 “With a strong conviction of the need to build a strong and productive democratic society, we believe that investing in the people—especially in their educational opportunities and human capital development—is one of the most fundamental and critically important areas if Myanmar is to succeed with its democracy, peace, and prosperity,” said Elaisa Vahnie, Executive Director of the BACI. “The MSLP aims to help produce highly sophisticated leaders who will be serving as agents of sustained change, architects of future institutions, and continued inclusive leadership.”

The MSLP collaboratively works with the Vietnam Initiative and will be able to draw from the expertise and experiences of the VI which has been highly successful in supporting Vietnam’s capacity and training needs through its scholarship and Strategic Leadership Fellowship programs for young Vietnamese as well as for the country’s senior officials.

“The challenges that Myanmar is facing are also the challenges of South East Asia and the world. We will support Myanmar by sharing all the experiences we have from the U.S. and Vietnam,” said Professor Anh Tran, Director of the Vietnam Initiative and Professor at Indiana University’s O’Neil School, a top ranked Public Affairs School in the US. Tran also serves as an Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of Vietnam.

The BACI also partners with various profound organizations and associations like NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the world’s largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange. Under the arrangement, NAFSA will direct funds from the Tamara H. Bryant Endowed Scholarship to support opportunities for Myanmar students and scholars from non-governmental entities to attend graduate school in the United States.

The MSLP Scholarship releasing event on June 17 was attended by Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, Chairman of the Rector’s Committee, Dr. Zaw Myint, Director General, Ministry of Education, BACI Board Chair Dr. Ro Ding and Board Members, as well as representatives from MSLP partner Universities: Maurer School of Law and O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington, the IU McKinney School of Law at IUPUI, the University of California Berkeley School of Law, and Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

About BACI
The Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 that provides educational and vocational support to the Burmese community in greater Indianapolis. The BACI also supports community members regionally, nationally, and globally through new initiatives, collaborative and strategic partnerships, and advocacy.

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