SVG gets 55 scholarships from University of Wales

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been granted 55 scholarships from the University of Wales Trinity St. David.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said that 40 of the scholarships are face-to-face delivery and 15 are online.

“And we want to do that for October, to get our students out for October,” Gonsalves said.

The prime minister said that students are already calling his office because they are excited about it, as is he.

Gonsalves noted his government’s National Economic and Social Development Plan 2013-2025.

He noted the goals of reengineering economic and sustainable growth; establishing increased harmony and social development; and building resilience to climate change.

“So that the scholarships are in subject areas connected to these strategic goals… so you have, for instance, scholarships will be offered in the area; undergraduate scholarships or training will be offered in business and management, health management.”

The prime minister said there will also be university certificates of higher education in particular disciplines, two-year diplomas, online programmes at the master’s level in a number of areas, including business management, sustainable leadership, sustainable development, international hotel management.

“So the details will be presented through the office of the chief personnel officer and the actual allocation of the number of scholarships for each particular area, they will be worked out,” Gonsalves said.

The prime minister said that the online programmes are at the master’s level “and we will try and make sure that the online programmes are very well organised.

“Because we have gone this way already with the University of West of England, Nottingham University. It’s not new. We do it at open campus; we do it also at community college. It is not a new area for us. But this is very exciting. This thing is valued at over one million pounds.”

Gonsalves said that the scholarships will be advertised.  “Everything will be done in a transparent manner,” he said.