BACOLOD CITY -- Qualified and deserving students in Negros Occidental may avail of the ‘Study Now, Pay Later’ system through the Australia Scholarship Program.

The program is under the memorandum of agreement signed by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Sean Mahoney, chief executive officer of International College of Advance Education (ICAE), at Darwin, Northern Territory on Nov. 9.

The recipients of the scholarship, particularly in the field of hospitality, tourism, and cookery, will study at the ICAE based in Darwin.

The scholarship aims to provide the Negrense youth with the opportunity to study and work in Australia and pave the way for them to obtain a stable career and qualify for a work visa and eventually permanent work visa and residency.

Under the MOA, the ICAE will provide qualified Negrense scholars with vocational training, which will incorporate an equal mix of classroom study and paid industry placement for hospitality and commercial cookery.

The scholarship programs offered by ICAE are accredited and approved by the Australian government, and in coordination with the Office of the Honorary Consul to NT, Australia, Januario Rivas.

Lacson also attended the ICAE graduation ceremony that day, along with Consul Rivas and the Negros Occidental delegation.

Meanwhile, Lacson also met with Honourable Eva Lawler MLA, Minister for the Northern Territory, Australia at the Minister's Suite, Darwin Parliament House.

They discussed updates on infrastructure, planning and logistics of both governments as well as possible collaboration on scholarships and migration.

Also in the meeting were Consul Januario Rivas, Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, Executive Assistant to the Governor and public information officer Charina Magallanes-Tan, and Dr. Cristina Orbecido, administrator of Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (Nolitc).