Jamaicans Get More Chevening Scholarships

More than half of the 2022 United Kingdom (UK) Chevening Government Scholarships for Caribbean nationals were awarded to Jamaicans.

Of the 33 scholarships that were made available, 16 were awarded to nine women and seven men from the country.

Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, said they will be studying in fields such as Special and Inclusive Education, Law, Media and Communications, Counterterrorism, Security and Public Health Management.

She was speaking during a reception held at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Kingston on August 25, to celebrate the recipients’ achievements by presenting them with their scholarship certificates.

“This is an opportunity that I would encourage qualified Jamaicans to pursue. [It] offers an avenue for development to future leaders and decision-makers in various fields. May you carry Jamaica with you; I know you’ll be our ambassadors,” the Minister said.

British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Her Excellency Judith Slater, lauded their achievement as “one which speaks volumes to the talent we have here on the island”.

She further highlighted that the 16 recipients were also chosen from a local batch of 400 applicants this year.

“[They are from the parishes of] Kingston, St. Andrew, Manchester, St. Ann, St. James and Clarendon, so that’s a very good spread. [They will also be] going to universities across England, Scotland and Wales,” the High Commissioner noted.

“I want to thank the Jamaican education system, which has produced you all, because had it not done so, you wouldn’t have gotten these scholarships,” she said.

Nearly 300 Jamaicans have benefited from this scholarship, to date, which will be increased following the programme completion by this year’s cohort.

For his part, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Leslie Campbell, encouraged the recipients to “hold up that Jamaican flag very high [and] do us proud”.

The Chevening Programme accepts applicants between the ages of 25 and 43, who are evaluated based on their character, academic achievements, and recent work produced in their careers. The programme is aimed at developing global leaders across the world.