ANPN representative Oscar Faria asked at the ceremony about the benefit of the Masters study program, said past recipients had “contributed significantly to the human capital development of Timor-Leste”, in particular the petroleum, natural resources, and energy related fields.

 “With ongoing cooperation between all relevant partners in achieving the goal of the SERN-Fulbright program, an increased number of qualified Timorese will work in the energy sector and other fields in the coming years,” Faria said.

The  master’s program is supported by the Ministry of Petroleum and Minister Resources and the Bayu-Undun Joint Venture programs.

Kathleen Fitzpatrick, the U.S Ambassador for Timor-Leste, noted in her remarks of the importance of education for Timor-Leste’s future. 

“Education initiatives such as this bring us closer to meeting our shared goals, and I believe that young Timorese are ready to meet the challenges we face,” she said.

More than 100 Timorese students have been awarded full scholarships to study at various universities across the US through the Fulbright-SERN scholarship, J. William Fulbright Scholarships, and various United States scholarships.

This year’s recipients include; Maria Barreto Gama (Fulbright Scholarship), Atanasio Pereira Xavier, Januario Riberio da Costa,  Nelson Mesquita, Shobari Guterres Nunes, and Gregorio do Rosario Pinto (Fulbright-SERN Scholarships).