Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards Extended For 10 Years
Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards Extended for 10 Years
Additional HK$100 Million Pledged by Cheung Kong and Australian
Government for Australia-Asia Student Exchange
(7 July 2009 – Melbourne, Australia) – The Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong
Awards were extended for a further ten years at a signing ceremony in Melbourne
today, attended by the Hon Julia Gillard MP, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of
Education of the Australian Government, and Mr H L Kam, Group Managing Director
of Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited.
The Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards represent a partnership between the
Cheung Kong Group and the Australian Government to promote educational
exchange opportunities between Australia and Asia. Under the extension, the Cheung
Kong Group will contribute A$7.5 million (about HK$46.5 million) to the programme
over the next ten years, which will be equally matched by the Australian Government.
The A$15 million (about HK$93 million) total funding will provide for over 2,500
student exchanges and research fellowships for Australian and Asian scholars.
Launched in 2004, the Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards have already
supported around 500 Australian students to take up educational exchange
opportunities in Asia and 500 Asian students in exchanges to Australia over the past
five years. The Awards present an exceptional opportunity to foster mutual
understanding between students in Australia and Asia. They have proved to be an
invaluable channel for nurturing exchange between Australia and Asia and for giving
students more opportunities to widen their international perspective before they
embark on their careers and working lives.
The Hon Julia Gillard MP commented: “One way in which the Australian
Government supports the internationalization of education is through our unique
partnership with the Cheung Kong Group.”
“The Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Scholarship Program not only provides
pathways for individuals from Australia and Asia to undertake an international study
experience, it also assists in the progression of the social and economic environment
of Asia and Australia by strengthening bilateral ties and expanding the cross-cultural
dialogue between the countries involved,” she continued.
Mr H L Kam said: “Over 15 years, the Awards will promote the movement of
3,500-4,000 students between Australia and the Asian region. This unique group of
students represents a very significant body of influential young people that play a
valuable role as ambassadors for Australia and Asia.”
“The Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards have now been extended through to
the year 2020. My 2020 vision is to see the Awards reach as many Australian and
Asian students as possible, which will have a positive impact on strengthening
economic, political and social bonds between Australia and Asian countries.”
“We are proud to have the opportunity to participate in such a meaningful programme.
With the support of all concerned parties, I am confident that the Endeavour Australia
Cheung Kong Awards will be a continued success in the coming years,” he concluded.
- Ends -
Captions:
The Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards were extended for a further ten years
at a signing ceremony in Melbourne today, attended by the Hon Julia Gillard MP,
Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Education of the Australian Government
(right), and Mr H L Kam, Group Managing Director of Cheung Kong Infrastructure
Holdings Limited (left).
The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Education of the
Australian Government (front row, centre left); Mr H L Kam, Group Managing
Director of Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited (front row, centre right);
senior executives of CitiPower Pty and Powercor Australia Ltd; and awardees of the
Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Awards attended the signing ceremony today.
