Asia top destination for AGCI scholarships in Chile: An interview with Valeria Matus

By David Azócar

Japan, China, Thailand and Malaysia are just four of the countries with which Chile has signed human resource development and cooperation agreements. The scholarships produced in such accords range from learning textile weaving techniques to highly sophisticated courses on the infrastructure of nuclear power plants.

A growing number of Chileans are looking to Asia as a source of professional development.  The variety of programs offered by countries in Asia has rapidly and consistently increased since the signing of Chile’s free trade agreements. The Chile Asia-Pacific Portal spoke to a person who helps Chileans study in Asia. She is Valeria Matus, program coordinator for the Department of Human Resources Training and Scholarships at the Agency for International Cooperation - Chile (AGCI).

What is your connection to the Asia-Pacific?

I studied English/French translation and have been in my current position since 2007. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a course that AGCI had announced.  

I visited Japan through a bilateral project to train AGCI staff in management issues and project evaluation. The experience was excellent and very useful given our work. We were required to disseminate lessons learned. 

I highly recommend the experience.

What types of scholarships does AGCI handle?

AGCI is the designated government entity for disseminating scholarships. We are part of the Foreign Ministry. Our job is to publish the scholarship criteria, guide applicants and eventually send papers to the relevant selection agencies.

The two types of AGCI scholarships AGCI are short and long term. Our forte is the former, which usually cover study between one and six months, depending on the program and country. One thing that must be borne in mind is that the awards vary in each scholarship program, though most cover all expenses; i.e., flight, accommodations and course fees.

Who may apply for AGCI scholarships?

This is extremely important, because those who want to apply must be very careful to read their chosen program’s criteria. I say this because there are different types of Calls for Applicants. There basically are two types, though: open to all ages who are both private and state employees. And for public officials, who incidentally represent the majority of our awardees, who can apply even if they are on contract and not full-time employees.

Another fundamental requirement is that applicants are professionals (and not Technical School graduates, though exceptions do exist. It is also recommended that people have at least two years of work experience.

To what countries can people apply?

Our department works with Asia, but not every Asian nation has a signed an agreement with Chile. The leading providers are China (83 courses), Japan (over 50), Malaysia (80), Singapore (16 programs) and Korea (approximately 8).



What areas of study are offered?

The broadest one could imagine. There are very specific topics, such as improving English language skills, developing policies for small and medium enterprises, construction and maintenance of roads and so on.

However, if you ask me what areas Chileans are after, I would say public policy, aquaculture, livestock, veterinary and health areas. And issues related to economic cooperation.

What recommendations would you make to Chileans who wish to apply?

Learning English is my main recommendation. It is not enough to say they know or they think they know English. Those wanting to apply should bear in mind that over 90% of the courses are in English. Agencies awarding scholarships do not want to offer students "a chance to get away from home". They are after learning experiences.

We accept TOEFL, TOEIC, and ETAPP scores, among others. It is very important to analyze the costs of each. ETAPP is the cheapest option at CP$15,000. It also quick because results are ready the next day. Test takers must receive a minimum 75% to be considered for scholarships.

Finally, I must say that those who earn money should bring some pocket money if they want to bring a souvenir or take a small tour on a free day. A few dollars in your pocket will help a lot.