TWO locals have been awarded Lee Kuan Yew Scholarships to study in the Masters in Public Management program at the National University of Singapore (NUS) next year.

The scholarships were awarded to U Ye Minn Thein, 36, an assistant director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr Yee Yee Htwe, 49, the general manager of Zest Phemics Company Limited.

The scholarship program will include one month of English-language study before starting the program at NUS and three months of study at Columbia University in the United States.

“After three months at Columbia we will go back to Singapore to write a research paper. The program will end in January 2009,” said Dr Yee Yee Htwe.
She said she applied for the scholarship via the internet.

“I expect to return from Singapore with the kind of experience that will help me do my work better,” she said.

U Ye Minn Thein said applying for the scholarship was like taking an examination.

“First I had to write an essay about my personal experiences, then I had to take a 90-minute exam. After that I had a phone interview with two professors from NUS,” he said.

The cost of the one-year course covered by the scholarship is S$130,000 (US$90,000).

A farewell ceremony for the two scholars was held at the Singaporean embassy in Yangon on November 23.

At the ceremony Singapore’s ambassador, Mr Robert Chua, encouraged the scholars to do their best in their studies so that when they return home they can make a significant contribution to the economic development of Myanmar.

The scholarship fund, named in honour of Singaporean minister mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew, was established in 1991.