Fourteen young Myanmar professionals are departing for the United States this month on full scholarships to begin master’s degree studies at American universities, according to a press release.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Mission Director in Myanmar, Ms. Pamela Fessenden introduced the first of 100 students whom USAID plans to support in the next five years through its Lincoln Scholarship Program.

“We are proud to be sending these fourteen young leaders from across Myanmar to the United States to earn master’s degrees. We are doing this to enable bright people from across Myanmar to gain educational and leadership experiences that can help shape Myanmar’s future,” Chargé d’Affaires George Sibley said.

Universities in the United States offer many graduate degree programs that are not yet available in Myanmar’s universities. Equipping Myanmar’s future leaders with degrees in areas such as public health, environmental science, agricultural economics, and public policy and administration will ensure Myanmar has the technical capacity in its government, private sector, and civil society to lead the people through the increasingly complex issues of the 21st century.

“The Lincoln Scholarship program is part of the American people’s on-going commitment to the people of Myanmar, to support your pursuit of inclusive democratic and economic transformation,” said Pamela Fessenden, USAID Acting Mission Director in Myanmar.

The first group of Lincoln Scholars to depart for the U.S. include nine women and five men representing Shan, Kachin, Karen, Kayin, Mon, and Rakhine states, and Yangon and Bago regions. All fourteen of the Lincoln Scholars, who will be located at 10 universities across the U.S., will also participate in additional courses in leadership and conflict resolution at George Mason University.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with the Institute of

International Education (IIE) through 2024 to provide 100 Lincoln Scholarships. Myanmar’s Thabyay

Education Foundation will ensure information about the scholarship opportunity reaches candidates from all ethnic communities throughout Myanmar.