Nestlé announced last week that a total of 36 university students in Yunnan Province in China had been awarded the “Nestlé Scholarship” for 2015-2016, reports China Daily. Representatives from China Women’s Development Foundation, Puer City’s Women’s Development Foundation, Puer City’s Committee for the Wellbeing of the Youth, Tea and Coffee Industry Development Office of Puer and Nestlé representatives attended the “Nestlé Scholarship” presentation ceremony.
Nestlé has set up a scholarship program in Yunnan since 2013, which is open to outstanding students from families of coffee farmers who are registered under Nestlé Agricultural Services Department.
The program encourages the students to pursue a high-level professional education and also rewards farmers for their contribution in the development of the local coffee industry.
All scholarships are fully funded by Nestlé, and are selected based on an open, transparent and merit-based process, under the supervision and guidance of the Puer City’s Committee for the Wellbeing of the Youth and jointly implemented by China Women’s Development Foundation, Puer City’s Women’s Development Foundation and Nestlé China.
The Nestlé Scholarship offers 5,000 RMB (US$770) per year for each person, and an outstanding student will enjoy up to four years of consecutive funding.
The scholarship is open to undergraduate, college and vocational school students, and applicants will undergo an open and transparent selection that takes into account their academic performance, social work experience and family economic status, among other factors.
In order to encourage long-term development of the local coffee industry, the scholarship gives priority to students majoring in agriculture-related majors.
As long as students provide corresponding academic progress or proof of engagement in volunteering work and other social services, they would be able to continue applying for this scholarship until graduation.
