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by pltm
(PLTM) - The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) and Johnson and Wales University (JWU) have signed two Memoranda of Understanding with the second between JWU and the Ministry of Education.
The agreement between JWU and HLSCC grants HLSCC graduates guaranteed admission to JWU. The two sides have been in negotiations and healthy discussions since 2018 to find ways to collaborate as well as assist local students who wish to attend the renowned university with campuses in Providence, Miami, Charlotte, and Denver.
The Guaranteed Admission Programme (GAP) creates a seamless admission process for transfer students intending to complete a bachelor's degree at Johnson & Wales University. Under GAP, HLSCC graduates can transfer directly into the following programmes with junior status: Business Studies; Liberal Studies; and Culinary Arts.
Also, HLSCC graduates transferring to JWU under GAP with grade point averages of 2.5 and higher will be eligible for up to $7500 in scholarships.
Dr. Richard Georges, Acting President of HLSCC, stated that the goal is to offer amazing incentives for HLSCC students as well as raise the profile of the college in terms of the opportunities available to its graduates.
“Most importantly we are trying to create more robust partnerships with the institutions we hold agreements with. They visit our campus, they understand the position of the college in particular and the BVI in general,” Dr. Georges explained.
The second agreement, between the Government of the Virgin Islands and JWU, specifically speaks to ways the two entities can fund HLSCC graduates that academically excel to attend the university.
According to Mehdi Moutahir, Senior Director of International partnerships, the establishment has a very generous scholarship program and they are happy to extend and customize matching funding to HLSCC students who have received BVI Government scholarships.
“The aspiration is to provide a pathway for HLSCC students to complete their Bachelor’s degree in a specific discipline as well as their Master’s degree in a two plus two plus one degree,” Moutahir stated.
He added that the parties plan for full tuition to be covered for three years and the successful HLSCC applicant will only be responsible for room and board.
Minster of Education Dr. the Hon. Natalio Wheatley indicated that he recognised the challenges in providing scholarships for students attending school abroad.
“Either the room and board isn’t financially covered or the tuition is too high and the scholarship becomes inadequate,” the Minister stated.
However, Dr. Wheatley relayed how grateful he was to witness and be a part of such a visionary initiative to address such matters.
“The government is committed through HLSCC to providing scholarships for further study to facilitate the training needs of our most precious resource, the human resource,” Dr. Wheatley stated.
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