PR: Myanmar students awarded prestigious WWF’s Education for Nature scholarships

Three Myanmar graduate students have been awarded prestigious scholarships from WWF’s global Education for Nature (EFN) Programme. Annually, WWF-EFN program supports scholarships for post-graduate studies in environmental and biodiversity conservation.

Three Myanmar graduate students have been awarded prestigious scholarships from WWF’s global Education for Nature (EFN) Programme. Annually, WWF-EFN program supports scholarships for post-graduate studies in environmental and biodiversity conservation.

“Environmental conservation will play a major role in Myanmar’s sustainable development. EFN hope to increase the number of graduate students choosing to enter this critical field and aims to nurture Myanmar’s conservation leaders of the future, “said Thiha Oo. EFN Coordinator, WWF-Myanmar.

This year’s winners, who were selected from over 25 extremely well-qualified applicants, are

• Mr.Nanda Aung (Master of Industrial Waste Water Management at Wageningen University, Netherlands)
• Mr. Aung Nyein Chan (Master of Wildlife Science at Colorado State University, USA)
• Ms.Kyi Phyu Aung (Master of Forestry and; Environmental Conservation at University of British Columbia, Canada)

The initial selection panel was made up of three conservation experts from WWF-Myanmar and three independent external conservation experts. The panel judged the candidates based on the conservation value of research proposal, overall understanding of the country’s conservation needs, the potential for candidates to contribution to the country’s conservation work, leadership and motivation. External conservation experts conducted the final interview and made the final awardee decision.

“Any Myanmar nationals who have two years of conservation related work experience and are enrolled in conservation-related studies in any university globally can apply for WWF-EFN fellowship program,” continued Oo. “WWF-Myanmar is working hard to fund more candidates for coming years.”

EFN has operated in Myanmar since 2014 and in addition to the Fellowships for graduate studies (Master and PhD), it offers Professional Development Grants for short-term training, organisational Workshop Grants and Reforestation Grants.

With three of the most pristine large rivers and some of the most extensive intact forests in Southeast Asia, Myanmar is one of the most biologically diverse and ecologically productive nations on Earth. However, its wildlife and wilderness are under threat as Myanmar undergoes rapid economic development. WWF is working to ensure Myanmar can develop and keep its biodiversity for future generation.

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Media enquiries please contact:
Saw Linn Htet, Communications Officer, WWF-Myanmar:
sawlinn.htet@wwfgreatermekong.org

Notes to editor

WWF is one of the world largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

EFN started in 1994 to provide financial support to proven and potential conservation leaders in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to gain the skills and knowledge they needed to address the conservation challenges in their home countries.