The Foreign Scholarships/ Training Program (FSTP) is a component of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) extended to the Philippines by foreign donor countries, the objective of which is to enhance the capabilities of institutions in accordance with the national development thrusts and strategies.

The FSTP is planned and negotiated annually with the donors based on the identified training needs of agencies/institutions. It consists of degree and non-degree, academic and non-academic short-term courses.

The composition of the SCS is as follows:

• National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), as chairman
• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
• Department of Education (DepEd)
• Office of the President - Presidential Management Staff (OP-PMS)
• Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
• Civil Service Commision (CSC); and
• University of the Philippines, as the present representative of the academic community

The NEDA Scholarship Affairs Secretariat provides technical and secretariat support to the SCS.

SCHOLARSHIP AFFAIRS SECRETARIAT 2nd Floor NEDA Building 12 St. Josemaria Escriva Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City Tel: 631-2164; 631-2165 (telefax)

The Main Functions of the SCS are:

• Coordination and administration of foreign scholarship and training/study programs under bilateral and multilateral agreements, various technical cooperation programs, including other special programs;
• Formulation of policies and procedures, concerning scholarships availment, scholars benefits and entitlements, return service obligations, application for extension of awards, etc.
• Pre-selection and nomination of the Philippine Government official candidates for foreign funded scholarships and training/study grant

The program adopts the following sectoral priorities identified in the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) in classifying scholarships and trainings:

• Macro Economic and Development Financing
• Agri-Industrial Development
  • Agriculture
  • Agrarian Reform
  • Industry/Trade and Tourism & Development Diplomacy
  • Environment and Natural Resources
  • Science and Technology
• Human Development
  • Health and Nutrition
  • Education
  • Social Welfare and Development
  • Housing
• Infrastructure
  • Transportation
  • Communications
  • Energy and Power
  • Water Resources
  • Social Infrastructure
• Development Administration
  • Local Government and Crime/Police Administration
  • Public Policy and Administration
  • International Relations

These are regular and tailor-made programs which are classified into academic and non-academic courses.

The academic courses are long-term degree courses, the duration of which ranges from one year to three years. The non academic courses, on the other hand are short-term specialized trainings usually ranging from 2 weeks to 7 months

Specific scholarship programs are classified into:

• Colombo Plan
  • India
  • Singapore
• Bilateral Program
  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • China
  • Federal Republic of Germany
  • Indonesia
  • Italy
  • Israel
  • India
  • Japan
  • Republic of Korea
  • Malaysia
  • New Zealand
  • Thailand
  • The Netherlands
  • Pakistan
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United States
• Special Programs
  • United Nations Agencies
  • ASEAN/EC Scholarship Program
  • Japan Scholarship Fund for the ASEAN Youth (JSFAY)

The target beneficiaries of the Program are officials and employees of governemtn agencies/Institutions, private sector and accredited non-government organizations

All Filipino citizens employed in either the government or private sector institutions including those working with NGOs may avail of foreign scholarship grants provided:

• The following basic requirements are met:
  • must not have any pending administrative or criminal charges;
  • must be physically and mentally fit to undergo training;
  • must have a permanent or regular status of appointment except for project-related course;
  • must meet the educational requirements of the program;
  • must have at least two (2) years of working experience, the last year of which is with the nominating institution at the time of nomination;
  • must not have pending application for scholarships in another program or has completed the return service obligation from previous scholarship, if any.
• The nominee passes the SCS pre-selection criteria; and
• The nominee meets specific donor country requirements.
  

The general criteria for the selection of a candidate are:

• The field of study where a candidate is nominated must be related to or in line with his/her current official functions;
• The candidate's undergraduate course must meet the requirement of the program that he/she is applying for; and
• The academic performance of the candidate in his/her undergraduate course, especially in the core subjects relating to the program being applied for, shall be at least on the average level

The following are the general procedures and guidelines to be strictly followed:

• The nominee shall be endorsed by the head or deputized official of the agency/organization both government/private sector.
• The nomination of candidates from regional agencies shall be coursed through its central office
• The documentary requirements for nominees coming from Luzon and Metro Manila areas, shall be submitted to the SCS Secretariat, 2nd Floor NEDA Building, Blessed Jose Maria Escriva Drive (Fmr Amber Avenue), Ortigas Center, Pasig City or NEDA Regional Office in Cebu in the case of Visayas and in Davao in the case of Mindanao nominees, before the deadline indicated in the SCS invitation to the agency. These may be sent through regular mail or messengerial pouches.
• The date of personal interview is indicated in the SCS invitation letter. Nominees are required to confirm with the SCS or the Regional Screening Committee (RSC) the exact time two days prior to interview schedule.
• The nominee shall be informed immediately of the results on the same day of the interview. those who pass the SCS pre-selection process shall be required to accomplish and submit to the SCS the donor's nomination forms and other additional documentary requirements

• The nominee coming from a qualified institution or target sector must be endorsed by the head of deputized official of that agency/ organization.
  • The letter of nomination addressed to the Chairman, SCS signed by the Secretary or head of office/agency/ university or its duly authorized official must indicate among others, the following:
    • that the nominee has no pending administrative and criminal charges;
    • that the nominee has been conferred a degree;
    • assurance of utilizing the services of the nominee, if accepted for a period of less than two years for every year of scholarship or as provided under EO no. 367 amending EO 129
    • that the salary of the grantee will be paid for while on training and shall be extended other financial privileges pursuant to the said order.
• Certified Copy of Service Record;
• Certified Copy of Actual Duties and Responsibilities;
• Photocopy of Academic Transcript of Records;
• Biodata with list of trainings (local and foreign) attended; and
• Photocopy of College Diploma.