The Australian Embassy in Hanoi has announced that applications are now open for the 2011 Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Scholarships until June 30, 2010.

The ALA Scholarships programme is part of the Australia Awards launched by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in November 2009. It aims to foster leadership, build partnerships and linkages and address issues of priority that affect people across the Asia-Pacific region.

Scholars will be selected on the basis of leadership qualities and academic achievement in the following priority areas: economic growth, education, environment, food security, gender, governance, health, disability, human rights, infrastructure, regional stability, rural development, and water and sanitation.

Since 2006, 72 Vietnamese have been awarded ALA Scholarships to study at leading education institutions in Australia. 

Candidates can get further information on ALA Scholarships at http://www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/ala.cfm.