Project profile — Canada-ASEAN scholarships and educational exchanges for development program

• Far East Asia, regional (100.00%)

• Education, Level Unspecified: Educational research (11182) (15.00%)
• Post-Secondary Education: Higher education (11420) (85.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (significant objective)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)
• Nutrition (not targeted)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)

The project aims to channel the creativity and the productivity of a new generation of students and young professionals, especially women, to contribute to poverty reduction and inclusive growth within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. More specifically, it seeks to deepen the knowledge and develop practical skills of students or mid-level professionals from the ASEAN region in areas of study that contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Project activities include: (1) providing short-term (up to 8 months) scholarships for study/research for ASEAN students in Canadian post-secondary academic institutions in areas of study that are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals; (2) creating institutional agreements between Canadian and ASEAN post-secondary academic institutions; (3) providing short-term scholarships for ASEAN mid-career professionals working in sectors contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to enhance their knowledge and skills in their area of work; and (4) creating of an alumni network.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased knowledge and skills of youth and young professionals, especially women, in areas that contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and (2) strengthened linkages between ASEAN and Canadian post-secondary academic institutions.

Results achieved as of March 2024 include: (1) awarded 616 short-term scholarships to students, including 61% women, from 9 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to study in 10 Canadian provinces in a field aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. This includes 145 from Vietnam, 142 from Thailand, 101 from Singapore, 84 from Malaysia, 68 from the Philippines, 47 from Indonesia, 16 from Brunei, 6 from Myanmar and 7 from Cambodia; (2) facilitated institutional agreements and collaborations between 47 post-secondary institutions in Canada and 60 in the ASEAN region in 2023 to 2024; and (3) awarded 4 short-term scholarships to mid-career professionals from Cambodia working in sectors that contribute to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• Proactive disclosure