In a recent development, Timor-Leste and the United States have signed an agreement to enhance educational opportunities for Timorese students. Cristovao dos Reis, Executive Director of the Timor-Leste Human Capital Development Fund, signed the agreement in Dili with representatives from the U.S. Embassy present. This agreement will provide additional funding for higher education scholarships over the next five years.
The initial commitment by Timor-Leste is at least $150,000 in 2023, which will support up to three students pursuing Master’s degrees in the United States through the Fulbright program. The funding is anticipated to increase over the following four years as both nations aim to expand scholarship offerings.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Tom Daley commented on this initiative: “The United States has been a longstanding partner to Timor-Leste in providing scholarships for outstanding Timorese people to pursue education and exchange opportunities in the United States.” He added that he is proud of their joint efforts and looks forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation to help advance Timor-Leste’s National Strategic Development Plan.
This new scholarship agreement builds upon a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in December 2022 between the U.S. Embassy and the Timor-Leste Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Culture. The Institute of International Education, a global not-for-profit organization, will manage these funds and facilitate international exchange programs like the Fulbright Foreign Student Program.
During the MoU signing in 2022, it was announced that scholarship offerings would be expanded for Timorese students and scholars wishing to study or conduct research in the United States. Similarly, American students and scholars would have opportunities to teach and conduct research in Timor-Leste. Over two decades, more than 600 individuals from Timor-Leste have pursued higher education and exchange opportunities through various programs such as Fulbright, U.S.-Timor-Leste (USTL) scholarship, Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), among others.