KATHMANDU: Two Nepali students were awarded the British Council IELTS Award 2015 on September 8. According to a press release issued by British Council Nepal, the awardees are Omkar Kandel Prabesh and Pujyata Karmacharya. Both winners will receive cash prize of Rs 4,80,000 each as the cost of tuition fees for studies abroad. The award aims to assist students intending to study in universities abroad, as per the statement. Each winner was picked from over hundreds of applicants. The application process included essay writing on a topic of their choice in English, a presentation to the judges’ panel and interviews. This year students chose topics as diverse as ‘Digitalisation of educational content is good for long term learning’ to ‘Developing countries need trade, not aid’. “This initiative not only provides significant financial support for the two winners to enable them to study abroad and help them realise their future dreams and goals, but it also boosts their status as winners of this award by a competitive process. I wish them both every success and look forward to many more deserving applications in future years,” the statement quoted Dr Jovan Illic, Country Director of British Council Nepal, as saying. As per the statement, Dr Lava Deo Awasti, Joint Secretary, MOE said, “This award is not a gate pass to go aboard, but a support to gain knowledge and to come back to Nepal and help the country develop. And the award being announced on Shiksha Diwas (Education Day) is also a good thing as it shows the commitment of British Council towards the education sector of Nepal.”