Online nomination ICT Award 2020 starts

The online nomination (application) for the fifth edition of the ICT Award – a prestigious award in the information technology field in Nepal – has started from today. The online application for the ICT Award 2020, organised by ‘Living with ICT’ in collaboration with various government and private organisations, will be open till July 31, according to a press note issued by Living with ICT.
The ICT award has been delayed for some time this year due to the crisis and impact caused by Covid-19 pandemic, the press note reads, adding that the award ceremony, which is held on August 17 every year, will be delayed for some time this year. “Final date of the award will be announced after looking at the favourable time and situation after the deadline for online application is over.”
This year, ICT Award will be organised in 11 different categories, according to the organiser. The Innovation Driven Crisis Response ICT Award and the Woman Icon ICT Award categories have been added this year, it said, adding that Startup ICT Award, Product ICT Award, Rising Student ICT Award are the awards categories related to innovations and startups. “Likewise, Pioneer ICT Award, Nepali Diaspora ICT Award, ICT Entrepreneur Award and Media Person ICT Award are given to individuals.”
The Digital Governance ICT Award and Digital Education ICT Award are given to government organisations. The ICT Award – which started in 2016 – has so far honoured more than 30 individuals, organisations, companies and products in various categories, claimed the organiser.
Last year, the Startup ICT Award was received by E-Digital Nepal and the Product ICT Award was received by Mediflow Systems and Services. Similarly, the Rising Student ICT Award was received by Raktadan-Blood Donation Project. Likewise, Mahabir Pun was felicitated with the Pioneer Award, Dr Sameer Maskey with Nepali Diaspora Award, and Amit Agrawal with ICT Entrepreneur Award. The Digital Governance Award was received by the Public Service Commission and the Digital Education Award was received by the Nepal Open University (NOU). The Public Choice Award went to Kitabyatra and the Media Person ICT Award went to Bijay Timalsina.
This year, there are 12 jury members and 10 more jury advisory members to make the selection process of the award systematic and easy. The selection process will take place at different stages. Online and SMS voting will also be conducted by selecting the best 5 from different stages in startup, product, student project and innovation, while in other genres, the jury group will conduct the selection process at different stages.

23 Nepalis bag Australia Awards Scholarships

The Australian Government has offered 23 Australia Awards Scholarships to emerging leaders from Nepal to study at Australia’s world-class educational institutions in 2020. “Of the 23 awardees for 2020, 14 are from the public sector and 11 are female recipients,” reads a press note issued by the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu. “One applicant with disability has also been selected for the scholarship.”
These Australia Awards scholars were selected through a competitive process taking into account their academic and professional achievements, leadership qualities and most importantly their potential to drive positive change in support of Nepal’s national development,” said Australia’s ambassador to Nepal Peter Budd, at an event organised to bid farewell to the scholars.
Australia Awards scholars gain a quality education in Australia, advance their knowledge and build networks across a range of areas, including economic development, education, gender equality, disability inclusiveness and social inclusion, governance and water resource management. Many alumni of the Australia Awards go on to hold senior positions in business and government on their return home.
“The degree that I have obtained through Australia Award has enriched my analytical capacity,” an Australia Awards alumna Indu Ghimire said, adding that the award, additionally, has also supported her to expand her horizon of thinking to solve public sector issues by using various method of problem analysis. Ghimire is joint secretary at the Home Ministry.
Scholarships have been a key feature of Australia’s foreign policy since the Colombo Plan of the 1950s. Since then, more than 100,000 men and women from around the world have received an Australian Government scholarship to study in Australia, the press note reads, adding that more than 1,000 Nepalis have pursued study and research in Australia under the Australia Awards Scholarships. “The next cycle of Australia Awards Scholarships will open on February 2020.”

Former envoy gets 2019 Autumn Conferment of Japanese decorations

The Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2019 Autumn Imperial Decorations.
Former ambassador of Nepal to Japan Narayan Prasad Arjal is among this year’s foreign recipients and, in recognition of his contributions towards strengthening the relationship between Japan and Nepal, he will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, according to a press note issued by the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu.
Arjal – who is now 86 years old and served as an ambassador of Nepal to Japan from 1985 to 1991 – contributed to the promotion of friendly relations between Japan and Nepal by strengthening economic cooperation with Japan in medicine, infrastructure and other areas, moreover by connecting the Royal Family of Nepal and the Imperial Family of Japan as well as local municipalities of both countries, the press note reads, adding that he also made contributions for the Nepali pavilion at the Tsukuba Expo of Science and Technology in 1985 and at the Osaka Expo of the International Garden and Greenery in 1990. “Japanese Decorations are conferred upon foreigners twice a year, on April 29 and November 3 concurrently with the conferment of decorations and medals to Japanese nationals.”
The Order of the Rising Sun are bestowed upon individuals of merit, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the nation or public, they also conferred upon foreign nationals who have made notable contributions to promotion of relations between Japan and other countries in such as politics and diplomacy, research and education, medicine and social welfare, economy and industry, and culture and sports.