Three Postgraduate Scholarships in ICT Available

Three scholarships, valued at $1.5 million, are up for grabs for students desirous of pursuing postgraduate studies in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the new academic year.

Valuing $500,000 each, the scholarships are being offered by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (MSTEM) for study at the University of the West Indies (UWI); University of Technology (UTech) and the Northern Caribbean University (NCU).

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, made the disclosure during the University of the West Indies (UWI) ceremony of appreciation for the Universal Service Fund (USF), held at the UWI Regional Headquarters in St. Andrew on May 9.

Minister Paulwell said significant potential lies within the ICT sector and the country is positioning itself, by equipping its people with the requisite skills, to tap into the opportunities that exist.

“We really want to get programmers, people who are into software development encouraged; we want people who can look at some of the value added areas that can bring for this country tremendous rewards and wealth and this is just a first taste of it,” he said.

He noted that over time, the Ministry will be providing more scholarships in the area, adding that the Government is committed to creating wealth opportunities and jobs from the ICT, which is not limited to call centre agents.

Mr. Paulwell said the Ministry will rely on the institutions to develop the criteria and select the recipients.

“We will be making the money available, but I really believe that the institutions ought to be responsible for selecting the candidates who will (receive) these scholarships,” he said.

Mr. Paulwell said more details regarding the scholarships will be published by the relevant institutions.

The Universal Service Fund (USF) has completed a multi-million dollar roll out of Wifi access across the entire UWI Mona Campus and its environs, as well as completed the installation and upgrading of ICT and wireless system to all 10 UWI open campuses.