The Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) and Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC) will jointly provide scholarships to some 20 students every year. The scholarships will be provided to talented young sports enthusiasts. To this effect a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the RUB and the BOC, today.
Under the framework of cooperation and partnership, the Bhutan Olympic Committee has agreed to provide tuition fee and stipend to the concerned colleges at the existing government rates.
The Royal University of Bhutan, on the other hand, will provide up to 20 scholarships in its constituent colleges to study diploma or undergraduate program.
“We are doing this one, in discussion with BOC, to really promote people who have got talent in sports, so that they can also advance their studies in the academics,” said the Vice Chancellor of RUB, Dasho Dr.Pema Thinley.
The BOC’s Secretary General, Sonam Karma Tshering, said the scholarship is one of the first steps to build a vibrant sporting culture in Bhutan. Under what they call a sport passport system, the opportunity is to come up with an enabling system to pursue higher studies. “We hope that this will also encourage parents to encourage their children to participate in sports by giving incentives such as this.”
The arrangement will allow athletes to represent the nation at major international games and competitions. Currently, the Royal University of Bhutan provides six leadership scholarships yearly.