The Samoan Chapter of the University of Otago Alumni has donated SAT$10,000 to the National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) to fund a Fees Assistance Scholarship scheme.

The N.U.S. Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor, Tuifuisa’a Patila Malua Amosa was presented with a $10,000 cheque on Monday morning by the President of the Samoan Chapter, Tootooleaava Dr. Fanaafi Aiono Le Tagaloa.

According to a press release issued on Monday by the N.U.S. management, the purpose of the financial assistance is to provide $1,000 in fee assistance scholarships to 10 undergraduate students in 2023. 

But the scholarship recipients can only qualify if they achieve a minimum B+ average in the N.U.S. Foundation Programme, are registered in an undergraduate program (part-time/full-time), and are in the university's education (primary), science, technology, mathematics, and physics study programs.

To’oto’oleaava said the scholarship assistance scheme is a component of the Alumni's community outreach. She said primarily it is to assist local Samoan students realise and achieve their academic potential as well as relieve their families of the financial burden brought on by the effects of the post-COVID-19 pandemic from the previous years.

The N.U.S. Vice-Chancellor acknowledged and thanked the kind support of the Alumni in funding the tertiary education of Samoan students. 

She said the scholarships target students who genuinely need financial assistance in the critical learning areas of primary teacher education, mathematics, and the physical sciences

"Overall, it is a privilege for N.U.S. students to embrace these scholarships to ensure that they are given the full support they require from the university, both academically and financially," added Tuifuisa’a.