Australia Awards South and West Asia

Tsheyang Choden is studying a Master of Management (Human Resources) at the University of Melbourne, with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship. She is passionate not only about contributing to reforming Bhutan’s civil service at a critical juncture, but also about the support she has received during her studies.

In the following video, Tsheyang discusses her experiences as an Australia Awards scholar in Australia.

In Bhutan, Tsheyang is a civil servant and has worked with the Royal Government of Bhutan in the fields of human resources, planning and research. From this experience, she describes Bhutan’s civil service as having “an acute shortage of HR experts who are adequately equipped with HR best practices and skillsets that are of premium global standards”. She is not alone in this perception; as she says, “We are at a critical juncture where major transformations are taking place in the country, and civil service reforms is definitely one of them.” She sought out an Australia Awards Scholarship to help her play a part in such reforms. “The opportunity that I got through Australia Awards will definitely [help me] acquire the capabilities, managerial skills and technical expertise required to positively contribute towards this ongoing effort of the Royal Government to create a robust HR system.”

Having begun her studies in Australia in January 2024, Tsheyang reports that the experience “has been a challenging one but equally rewarding at the end”. She says the Australian approach to teaching is “a very effective approach […] It’s more interactive”, adding that the courses here are designed “to offer a wide range of practical experience-based learning opportunities”. Tsheyang has been impressed by the results. “It definitely generates reflective learning, reflective thinking, and also demands students to put in deeper research and analysis,” she says about her Australian degree.

Tsheyang has taken up opportunities for professional development, including by attending the 2024 Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia Scholars Forum which had the theme of “Working Together for a Gender-Equal World”. The event brought 52 Australia Awards scholars to Canberra, allowing them to engage with experts and each other on supporting women’s leadership and achieving gender equality.

“Attending the 2024 Australia Awards- South Asia & Mongolia Scholars Forum was an enriching experience,” Tsheyang says. “Engaging with experts and fellow scholars on the theme ‘Working Together for a Gender-Equal World’ deepened my understanding of the critical role of leadership in driving gender equality. The forum provided a platform to exchange ideas, build meaningful connections, and reflect on how we, as emerging leaders, can contribute to positive change in our respective fields and communities.”  

Tsheyang (second from right) pictured with other scholars from Bhutan at the 2024 Scholars Forum in Canberra.

Outside of the classroom, “I make sure that I find ways to socialise with people,” Tsheyang says. She’s not just part of the Australia Awards scholars group at her university, but is also meaningfully engaged as a member of some of the university’s student clubs. “I participate in networking activities, I talk to people with similar interests and in that way I can establish lifelong professional and personal linkages,” she says, adding that she has connected and networked with a lot of people coming from different professional and cultural backgrounds.

This diversity is one prominent element that comes to mind when she’s asked what she enjoys most about living in Australia. “I would say it’s a blend of Australia’s beauty, the cultural diversity and the high quality of life here,” she says. “It’s a very diverse society—diversity in terms of the people we meet, diverse in terms of the culture, food, music and everything. But at the same time, people know how to acknowledge those differences, respect each other and live in harmony,” says Tsheyang.

However, Tsheyang is most enthusiastic about the level of support that she has experienced. “The support that I’ve received from Australia Awards and the university, it’s just massive,” she says. “Words are not adequate to describe it!” She is excited to talk about the assistance provided to scholars, beginning from the initial stages with their visa application, through exhaustive pre-departure briefings, to opening a bank account and finding suitable accommodation. “On top of that,” Tsheyang adds, “the consistent, constant support that we receive throughout, it’s just amazing!”

This assistance is not limited to the scholar, she points out. “Australia Awards even give you the opportunity to bring your family along, and if you bring your family along, they render support in terms of matters such as childcare,” she says. “Also, if your dependants are unable to accompany you here, Australia Awards provides you with the opportunity to reunite with your family after one year. Isn’t it amazing?”

Tsheyang’s passion for Australia Awards is particularly evident when asked if she has any advice for anyone thinking of applying for a Scholarship themselves. “Australia Awards is a much sought-after opportunity in Bhutan,” she declares. “To all the prospective Australia Awards candidates, I would like to ask one question: ‘What are you waiting for?’ If not now, when? Because this is a lifechanging chance that you cannot afford to let go. Just give it a try.”