ST. VINCENT: The six Vincentians who this year received scholarships to study in Taiwan have been encouraged to return to their country after they complete their studies.
In making the appeal, Leo Lee, Taiwan Ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), told the students that not returning to SVG “would defeat the purpose of the scholarship”.
Lee made the plea on Tuesday as he presented the six women with their scholarship certificates during a luncheon in Kingstown.
He told the students that Taiwan, like SVG, has little natural resources and hence her people, regardless of their economic situation, invest in the education of their children.
He said this investment in the country’s human resources has led to Taiwan’s current status as an Asian economic heavyweight. (Go to the homepage to subscribe to I Witness-News)
He said the scholarship programme, in which students can read for degrees and, in some instances, study Mandarin Chinese at universities in Taiwan, is designed to contribute to the development of the recipient nation.
The six students bring to about 30 the number of Vincentians who have received Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholarships — on account of SVG’s diplomatic ties to Taiwan — since the programme began in 2004.
Other Vincentians have also benefitted from scholarships offered by other Taiwan government agencies.
Lee noted that the number of scholarship was increased from five to six last year and there was a possibility that an additional three Vincentians could receive scholarships from Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund.
The six students who received scholarships this year are Joanna Jack, Jordana Lewis, Asheen Richards, Lannique Cambridge, Shevorn Smith and Nikieta Mandeville. (More photos)
Their motivation to study in Taiwan includes the country’s culture and prowess in their respective disciplines as well as the education system.
Richards, Cambridge and Smith will study Mandarin Chinese for one year before commencing their degree programmes.
Jack, a receptionist at a local hotel, graduated from Girls High School (GHS) and the SVG Community College. She will study travel and tourism at Ming Chuan University (MCU), which has the highest population of Vincentian students in Taiwan.
Mandeville will also enroll at MCU, reading international business. The accounts clerk at a local company graduated from St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown and SVGCC.
Lewis teaches at a private primary school here and the former GHS and SVGCC students wants to study civil engineering at the National Central University.
Richards, a programmer at the Ministry of Telecommunications wants to supplement her skills with a degree in computer science from Tsing Hua University. (Follow I Witness-News on Facebook)
Cambridge, who teaches information technology at a Kingstown high school, will also study computer science. Both students graduated from the GHS and SVGCC.
Smith, a student therapist at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, will pursue a degree in physical therapy at National Taiwan Normal University. She has been pursuing her passion for that field since she graduated from St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua and has completed several certificate programmes relating to the practice.