Press Release

On July 15 2020, Osaka Gas Foundation of International Cultural Exchange (OGFICE), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) held the Scholarship Presentation Ceremony at the Auditorium of Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology (FEST), in Hera Campus. OGFICE presented the total amount of 15,000USD to 30 selected students from FEST.

Approximately 100 people, including Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, Chief Representative of JICA Timor-Leste Office, Rector, Dean, Professors, teachers, and representative from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture, scholarship students and their parents, attended this Ceremony. Due to the travel restriction, representative from OGFICE could not present in the ceremony. However, the president of OGFICE will deliver his message to scholarship students through a video conference on this event.

OGFICE was established in 1992 by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. to deepen the mutual understanding with countries in Southeast Asia that produce natural gas and has performed education-related furtherance every year. OGFICE started the scholarship program to Timor-Leste in 2012, and financed approximately 10,000 USD for selected 20 students of FEST, UNTL. In addition, in July 2013, OGFICE made short-term training in Japan for two professors of FEST, UNTL. In December 2016, UNTL, JICA, and OGFICE concluded a Minutes of Cooperation to increase the numbers of selected students from 20 to 30 and OGFICE decided to grant a scholarship to students of FEST, UNT for four years from 2017 to 2020.

Through these education programs in Timor-Leste and other Southeastern Asia countries, OGFICE will promote the international exchange furthermore to build stronger friendship and partnership between Japan and Timor-Leste and other those countries in future.