Under the 2017 Technical Cooperation Program of the Government of the Republic of Korea, KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) four Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) staff members have been accepted to pursue master’s degrees in Korea as part a scholarship partnership initiative.

“The Republic of Korea is happy to invite Jamaicans with the capacity and potential to handle Korea’s education and training programmes in various topics as this will not only help Jamaica build administrative and technical expertise in both the public and private sectors but also contribute greatly in enhancing relations between the two countries,” Young Gyu Lee, head of mission of the Republic of Korea to Jamaica, said.

The four recipients — Kevin White, JPS Foundation coordinator; Antoinette Harris, cost of service analyst; Yenoh Wheatle, senior power system engineer; and Shanel Green, customer service analyst — were treated to a send-off on August 4, 2017.

White and Harris will each pursue a master’s degree in industry and trade policy at the Graduate School of Pan-Pacific International Studies, Kyung Hee University, from August 2017 to February 2019. While Wheatle and Green head to the Graduate School of International Studies, Ajou University, for their master’s programme in energy science and policy for the same period of time.

This scholarship programme has been offered annually since 2005, and up to 2016 some 25 Jamaicans have participated in master’s and doctoral degrees programmes in Korea, sponsored by KOICA and the National Institute for International Education of Korea.

The programmes are designed to share Korea’s experiences in relevant fields, and to strengthen partnerships with young and promising Jamaicans. KOICA, a Korean Government-funded agency, is dedicated to providing grant aid programmes. It offers a full scholarship for tuition, a round trip air ticket, accommodation, living allowance, and other incidentals for the students during their stay in Korea.