Jamaican scholars heading to UK

Four outstanding Jamaican scholars who have demonstrated leadership qualities have been given an opportunity to study postgraduate courses in the United Kingdom (UK) through Chevening Scholarships awarded at the British High Commission in St Andrew on Wednesday.

The Chevening Scholarships are the UK government's global scholarship programme, funded mainly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The objective of the Chevening programme is to support foreign policy priorities and achieve FCO objectives by creating lasting positive relationships with future leaders and decision-makers.

"It is about giving very talented individuals from all over the world an opportunity to experience one of the best educational experiences you can get, to expose them to the way we do things, the way we approach things in terms of legal disciplines, among others," said Howard Drake, British high commissioner to Jamaica. "We think this is a lasting investment."

full or part funding

The scholarship programme provides full or part funding for full-time courses at the postgraduate level, normally a one-year master's degree.

Since the 1990s more than 150 Jamaicans have benefited from Chevening postgraduate scholarships.

Education Minister Ronald Thwaites also commended the British government for the help it has provided over the years.

"This is the range and care that we must give to all those who seek learning and who seek to uplift our country. This is the kind of aid that we in Jamaica need from our friends in the British government. Their generosity to us is unabated and that does not go without mentioning we are very grateful for their consideration," he said.

"Those of us who have benefited from higher education have several characteristics; we walk foot all over the world but we never shake the Jamaican dust off our feet. Even when we stay abroad for a while, we remember where we are from. The whole purpose is that we should go and be trained and come back here and serve, that's a wonderful vision and I hope that our scholars will continue towards this endeavour."

Chevening scholars come from more than 120 countries worldwide, and more than 700 scholarships were awarded for the period 2011-2012.