Worldwide scholarships foster public-sector governance skills

Governance-minded public-sector employees are eligible for up to $12,600 in funding under a scholarship program designed to encourage the development of governance skills in public-sector organisations.

The Chant Legacy scholarships program, which is accepting applicants until October, funds up to six courses at $2100 each at any government-accredited tertiary institution, anywhere in the world.

Scholarships are based on merit and financial need, and have been targeted to bolster governance skills that would support better management and public accountability.

Twenty-one scholarships have been awarded since the program's inception two years ago, with four of them going to public-sector recipients.

“Practical skills and knowledge in governance are critical for anyone seeking to improve the performance, transparency and accountability of their organisation, whatever sector they may be in — private, government or not-for-profit,” said Tim Sheehy, chief executive of Governance Institute of Australia in a statement.

“As public sector budgets continue to be trimmed, government bodies have become more conscious of how a robust governance framework can directly improve the organisation’s efficiency.”

Scholarship applications will be judged by governance professionals including the director of the UTS Centre for Corporate Governance, Professor Thomas Clarke; Julie Hare, higher education editor at The Australian; and Governance Institute board member, Douglas Gration.

Successful applicants will be announced in December and must undertake their study during the first semester of 2015.

Click here for application forms and more information