Australia Awards South and West Asia

Alumnus Kuenzang Dorji from Bhutan certainly made the most of his time as an Australia Awards scholar. While in Australia, he immersed himself in academic pursuits, cultivated friendships and experienced the country’s diverse cultures.

He completed a Master of Construction and Infrastructure Management from the Swinburne University of Technology in 2021, with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship.

“The whole package of experiencing Australian life and the education system has provided me with an enriched perspective on how to be a better leader, engineer and human being,” he says.

During his time studying, Kuenzang received a number of accolades. Most notably, he was named the ‘Highest Achieving Graduate’ in his master’s degree cohort. He also received a letter of commendation for his High Distinction grades, which placed him among the top students at Swinburne University of Technology in 2020. In recognition of his academic achievements, he was invited to join Golden Key International Honour Society, the world’s largest collegiate honour society. Membership of the Society is restricted to the top 15% of university students.

Kuenzang during the Australia Awards Scholarship completion ceremony

Kuenzang found his course content to be highly relevant and applicable to the construction industry in Bhutan, especially regarding the use of construction management software to plan and monitor construction projects.

“The course covered topics such as the use of various management techniques and evaluating risks for each activity within a construction project. The construction industry in Australia is way more advanced than in Bhutan, and observing the quality of work and professionalism in Australia has given me extra motivation and drive to [improve] the quality of work in my company and country as a whole,” he says.

Now that he is back in Bhutan, Kuenzang is working as a Deputy Executive Engineer (Civil) for the Druk Green Power Corporation, where he is involved in the Chhukha Hydropower Plant. He plans to use the knowledge and skills he gained from Australia to contribute to enhancing Bhutan’s construction sector.

“The construction industry in Bhutan has its share of challenges. The research skills I got through the Australia Awards Scholarship will help me study, understand and improve these challenges of the construction sector,” he says.

Kuenzang’s Australia Awards experience has been invaluable for him. He encourages other Bhutanese to take advantage of this opportunity.

“In a knowledge-based society, where all our career enhancements and opportunities are linked to our academic qualifications, it is imperative to upgrade your qualifications from a recognised university to keep abreast with the changing pattern of technologies and knowledge,” he says. “However, to be a true leader you need to be equipped with equivalent emotional intelligence. An Australia Awards Scholarship offers you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore, interact with and experience diverse cultures, in addition to a world-class education system. Thus, for me, studying in Australia was immensely enriching, from both academic and personal standpoints. Based on the support and opportunities available in Australia, I strongly recommend that aspiring and eligible future leaders from Bhutan apply for an Australia Awards Scholarship.”

Do you want to be a leader in your field and make a difference in Bhutan? Applications for Australia Awards Scholarships are now open. Find out more here.