Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Scholarships In Legislative Drafting 2007
Press Statement 34/07
19 April 2007
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The need for high quality legislative drafters is one of the most pressing legal needs in the Pacific Region. Several international and regional organisations provide practical support for specific legislative drafting projects, but there is also a need to build the legislative drafting capacity of those working in various government sectors.
The University of the South Pacific (USP) has for many years offered the premier qualification in legislative drafting in the South Pacific, namely, the Professional Diploma in Legislative Drafting (PDLD). The PDLD is a 30-week program in which participants learn practical skills in translating government policies into clear and effective laws that can be understood and applied by a variety of stakeholders.
For 2007, The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) has agreed to provide funding to enable a number of regional students to undertake the PDLD program. The funding will be used to support several scholarships in which successful applicants will receive a full or partial waiver of USP tuition fees, with preference being given to Small Island States (Nauru, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Palau, Niue and the Cook Islands).
Because PIFS funding is limited, applications will be assessed on a competitive basis. The factors to be considered in awarding the scholarships include: academic merit; past and present experience in legislative drafting; citizenship of a USP member country or a Pacific Islands Forum member country (especially a Small Island State); and a willingness to accept a partial scholarship (and thus to meet part of the tuition fees yourself or through your employer).
In addition, to maximize the long-term effectiveness of the scholarships, an applicant must agree to be mentored for the duration of the PDLD program by an experienced legislative drafter from PIFS; and to refund the value of the scholarship in the event that the applicant does not complete the PDLD program successfully.
Any person who is interested in enrolling for the PDLD program in 2007 should complete two forms:
(1) the PDLD application form, which is available from Mrs Prem Shekhar (Mrs Prem Shekhar, Suva Division, School of Law, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, FIJI. Tel: (679) 3232980; Fax: (679) 3232998; email); and
(2) a Scholarship Application Form.
Anyone who has already submitted a PDLD application form will automatically be sent a Scholarship Application Form.
USP School of Law is extremely grateful to PIFS for the support they have shown for the PDLD program, and looks forward to the possibility of similar partnerships in future years.
Brian Opeskin
Professor of Law
Head of School (School of Law)
University of the South Pacific
19 April 2007
The need for high quality legislative drafters is one of the most pressing legal needs in the Pacific Region. Several international and regional organisations provide practical support for specific legislative drafting projects, but there is also a need to build the legislative drafting capacity of those working in various government sectors.
The University of the South Pacific (USP) has for many years offered the premier qualification in legislative drafting in the South Pacific, namely, the Professional Diploma in Legislative Drafting (PDLD). The PDLD is a 30-week program in which participants learn practical skills in translating government policies into clear and effective laws that can be understood and applied by a variety of stakeholders.
For 2007, The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) has agreed to provide funding to enable a number of regional students to undertake the PDLD program. The funding will be used to support several scholarships in which successful applicants will receive a full or partial waiver of USP tuition fees, with preference being given to Small Island States (Nauru, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Palau, Niue and the Cook Islands).
Because PIFS funding is limited, applications will be assessed on a competitive basis. The factors to be considered in awarding the scholarships include: academic merit; past and present experience in legislative drafting; citizenship of a USP member country or a Pacific Islands Forum member country (especially a Small Island State); and a willingness to accept a partial scholarship (and thus to meet part of the tuition fees yourself or through your employer).
In addition, to maximize the long-term effectiveness of the scholarships, an applicant must agree to be mentored for the duration of the PDLD program by an experienced legislative drafter from PIFS; and to refund the value of the scholarship in the event that the applicant does not complete the PDLD program successfully.
Any person who is interested in enrolling for the PDLD program in 2007 should complete two forms:
(1) the PDLD application form, which is available from Mrs Prem Shekhar (Mrs Prem Shekhar, Suva Division, School of Law, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, FIJI. Tel: (679) 3232980; Fax: (679) 3232998; email); and
(2) a Scholarship Application Form.
Anyone who has already submitted a PDLD application form will automatically be sent a Scholarship Application Form.
USP School of Law is extremely grateful to PIFS for the support they have shown for the PDLD program, and looks forward to the possibility of similar partnerships in future years.
Brian Opeskin
Professor of Law
Head of School (School of Law)
University of the South Pacific
