New dairy scholarship encourages student travel

MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday, 30 August 2011

For immediate release

New dairy scholarship encourages student travel and adventure

DairyNZ today announced the launch of its new Gap Year Scholarship programme in partnership with Communicating for Agriculture Education Programme (CAEP) New Zealand. The scholarships will provide support for school leavers looking for experience overseas prior to beginning their tertiary studies. They consist of funding ($5750 including GST) as well as expert assistance with overseas placement and travel arrangements.

Up to three Gap Year Scholarships will be available to New Zealand school leavers from 2012 and applications for the first round close on November 15 this year.

DairyNZ Industry Education Facilitator Bill Barwood says gap year travel and adventure appeals to many young people and by making it easier for them to get that experience, they’re more likely to come back and use what they’ve learned to benefit the dairy industry in the future.

“Our scholarship allows selected students the opportunity to have the ‘best of both worlds’ by experiencing an overseas adventure and having an incentive to return home to continue their tertiary studies and get involved in the dairy industry.”

Scholarship recipients will receive funding to help out with expenses, and expert assistance by CAEP with placement in one of their overseas agricultural programmes and the associated visa application procedures and travel arrangement etc. They will live and work on a host farm, with an approved host, and will have the opportunity to learn about farming in another part of the world.

CAEP NZ manager Robyn Baron says the CAEP programme is a great way for a young person to experience life in another country.

“At the same time they’re learning about a different way of farming, and maybe also passing on some of their own knowledge to their hosts,” she says.

Placements in CAEP’s dairy programme are primarily available in Canada, the United States and Australia. Placements in Europe and the United Kingdom may also be possible.

The scholar receives $2875 once they’re in their overseas placement and the balance is paid when they’ve completed their gap year and enrolled at either Massey or Lincoln Universities. Further support is potentially available to the student through the DairyNZ undergraduate scholarships.

For an application form and more information on DairyNZ’s Gap Year Scholarship, visit dairynz.co.nz/scholarships.

For more information about the Communicating for Agriculture Education Programme (New Zealand) visit newzealand.caep.org

-ENDS-

© Scoop Media