The KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) held the orientation for participants of 2018 KOICA Master’s Degree Scholarship Program at KOICA Sri Lanka office on 20th July, 2018. 

The event started with congratulatory speech from Mr. Lee Dong Ku, the country director of KOICA Sri Lanka office, in which he mentioned “In history of development of Korea, human resources were very important. The talented people were the engine for the development that Korea has achieved in such a short period of time and believe that talented people of Sri Lanka will also foster the development of the country.”

Also he hoped that this program will nurture the trust between the two countries.

During the orientation participants could understand more about KOICA and his various activities including projects in Sri Lanka, basic information of life in Korea as well as their responsibilities. To provide first-hand experience, a fellow of 2016 Master’s program shared his experience and knowledge from the program.

This year, 9 officers have been given entrance and scholarship to participate for 8 courses in various fields such as Agricultural Production, Global ICT Policy, Community Development, Capacity Development of Gender Equality Leadership, Water Resources Management, Atmospheric Environment, Regulation Management for Economic Development at renown institutions in Korea.

Once they complete the program and return to Sri Lanka, they can share their experience and knowledge in Korea with their colleagues and organization in the respective field and keep up working for friendship between Korea and Sri Lanka. Since the first Scholarship fellow in 2005, from 2005 to 2017 total 84 government officers from Sri Lanka had received master’s degrees through the program.

Since 1991, KOICA has been cooperated with the Government of Sri Lanka to enhance the quality of lives of the Sri Lankan people as well as economic development. One of the important means of cooperation has been providing capacity building program to nurture key future leaders in Sri Lanka who can contribute to the socio-economic development of their home country.

These capacity building programs are not only limited to short term training but longer Scholarship Programs for master’s degree.