Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 26, 2013 (SKNIS): A Memorandum of Understanding has been officially signed between the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, on July 24, which will residents the opportunity to further their studies.
Previously, students would spend two years at CFBC and two years at UVI. Dr. Haldane Davies, Special Assistant to the President of UVI stated that the opportunity that exists now expands beyond that.
“It is a full commitment of the Federation to ensure that everyone here would have that fair opportunity to be able to participate in higher education as offered by the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) in a manner, in form and mode that will be best suited to their situation,” he said. “Whether those individuals will be able to journey to our campuses in the U.S Virgin Islands or whether those individuals could take those courses right here at CFBC by means of having an off-site location here in the Federation.”
Dr. David Hall, President of UVI, stated that he was proud of the relationship with the Federation.
“The connection between St. Kitts-Nevis and the University of the Virgin Islands is a long standing one and this is a natural evolution,” Dr. Hall explained referring to some of the student leaders and present faculty members who have come from St. Kitts and Nevis. “When you think about a partnership, when you think about entering into a relationship with another entity or with another country, the question that always comes up is ‘how is this relationship going to benefit both sides? We have compelling proof that any relationship with CFBC and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is going to benefit us because it has happened in the past and we know it is going to happen in the future.
Minister of Education and Information Hon. Nigel Carty, stated that “St. Kitts and Nevis has come a very long way” and has been transformed. He added that “this transformation has come through education and the continued advancement of the people will come as they (the Government) seeks to put them into higher education.”
“… [Persons] In developed countries who have vast amount of resources human and otherwise will tell you that to secure their own sustainable development they would have to have at least a 20 to 25 percent minimum of persons in the population who have attained a University Degree or higher…It tells us that we in these small countries must more so invest in our people to attain that rate or standard or even higher and that is why we are here.”
The MOU provides 25 scholarships or financial assistance of not less than US $7,500.00 annually and six study-leave scholarships for persons who work in the government who will be paid 80 percent of their salary. In return the University will offer the students from St. Kitts and Nevis, nationals and non-nationals, as long as they are students or have been students of the CFBC, a rate that is comparable to rates being paid by students who are nationals of the Virgin Islands.
The MOU shall be for a period of 10 years from the date of its signature and a midterm review will be conducted after five years to determine adjustments that may be required to suit the needs of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and to adjust to whatever conditions may be required from the end of the UVI.
The University shall assist students in the planning stages to afford the best opportunities to pursue those degrees and programmes offered at the UVI and would advise them on programmes and courses available at the CFBC that will allow a smooth transition into the programmes offered at UVI.