Central Queensland University is offering free Study Abroad places in 2004/2005 to a student from Mexico and two from Colombia through a new Peace Scholarship program initiated by IDP Education Australia.

CQU is one of 27 Australian universities which are providing fee waiver places as part of the $5.7 million scholarship program being managed by the Peace Scholarship Trust. The Peace Scholarship Trust aims to promote global understanding and peace through international education.

As well as support from Australian universities in every state, other major contributors to the Trust include IELTS Australia Pty Ltd, the Mexican Secretariat of Public Education (Secretarma de Educacisn Pzblica), Queensland Education and Training International, the Victorian Department of Education and Training, English Australia and UNIFEM Australia. The Trust has also been supported by SASS Advertising and Mallesons Stephens Jaques. Education Australia (International Enterprises) Pty Ltd is the Trustee of the Trust.

The first peace scholars will commence studying in Australia in Semester 2, 2004 and in the first full year, a total of 67 Study Abroad and English language scholarship places will be available at Australian universities to deserving international students from at least seven countries.

Chief Executive of the Peace Scholarship Trust, Ms Lindy Hyam, said that in the initial stages of the scholarship scheme, prospective international students from a number of selected countries would be targeted. The countries include Cambodia, Colombia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations.

Ms Hyam is also Chief Executive of IDP Education Australia, Australia's leading international education and development organisation. IDP set up the Peace Scholarship Trust through the Trustee company and is managing the scholarship program on behalf of the Trustee company. IDP manages more than 15 fellowship and scholarship programs on behalf of governments and organisations in over 20 countries.

"This is just the beginning. Over the next 10 years we aim to provide more than 1000 Peace Scholarship places to both international students to study in Australia and for Australians to study abroad," said Ms Hyam.

While the Peace Scholarship program is initially focused on the higher education sector and involves only a selected number of countries, over time it is intended that the scope of the program will broaden. In the next few years the Peace Scholarship Trust plans to involve other Australian education sectors in the scheme, provide full degree and postgraduate scholarships, and offer scholarship opportunities to students from a wider range of countries. It is intended that scholarships will also be available to Australians to study overseas. Currently, international students in their second year of university at participating institutions overseas are eligible to apply for the peace scholarships. Students must demonstrate a commitment to peace and understanding and provide evidence that without financial support they would be unable to pursue an international study experience.

Ms Hyam said the Peace Scholarship Trust was continuing to seek support from the education sector, the business community and the general community.

All cash donations to the Peace Scholarship Trust are tax deductible in Australia. "International education plays a critical role in building global understanding and peace. Donating to the Peace Scholarship Trust is a tangible way that people can make a meaningful and valuable contribution to a very worthwhile cause. Australia has benefited enormously from the growing numbers of international students coming to our shores over the last decade in particular, and supporting the Peace Scholarship Trust provides a way of giving something back," said Ms Hyam.

The vision of the Peace Scholarship Trust is to build global peace and understanding through international education. Further information is available at http://www.idp.com/globalpeace.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Eleanor Rivers, Project Manager, Peace Scholarship Trust. Tel: +61 2 8251 2701, Email: eleanor.rivers@idp.com Peter Giesinger, Media and Corporate Relations Manager, IDP Education Australia. Tel: +61 2 8251 2737, Email: media@idp.com.