British High Commission and the JN Foundation have announced a Chevening Scholarship partnership agreement that aims to empower outstanding Jamaican scholars.

According to a press release, the ‘Chevening/JN Oliver F Clarke Scholarship’ will be the first Chevening Partner Award to be established in Jamaica.

As part of the collaboration, the JN Foundation will co-fund one Scholarship named in honour of the late Oliver F Clarke, former chairman of The Jamaica National Group, who passed in 2020. The scholarship will be provided annually over the next two years through the United Kingston’s (UK) Chevening programme, the release stated.

Chevening Scholarships are designed to equip scholars with the skills and knowledge needed to create positive change in their home countries.

This new partnership between the JN Foundation and Chevening is a testament to their joint mission to enrich lives and build stronger communities, the release stated.

British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Judith Slater stated that “We are delighted to have the JN Foundation as our first local Chevening Corporate Partner. For the last 40 years, the programme has given hundreds of young Jamaicans the opportunity to study in the UK and advance their expertise. This collaboration with JN will help to increase the Chevening scholarship offering for Jamaica and is another powerful symbol of UK-Jamaica Cooperation.”

Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Jamaica National Group, Earl Jarrett welcomed the collaboration, stating that “the partnership is another bridge for scholarship and exchange between Britain and Jamaica that will strengthen our ties and result in very positive development outcomes.”

“JN is pleased to be leading this first-of-its-kind partnership for Chevening with Jamaica, which will provide meaningful opportunities for the scholars and the Jamaican society through thought and exposure,” Jarrett said.

Chevening Scholarships have been a gateway for more than 55,000 professionals globally and 300+ in Jamaica to advance their careers and make meaningful contributions to their countries in a range of fields.

The application period for 2024 Chevening Scholarship closes on November 7, 2023. All eligible Jamaicans are encouraged to apply via Chevening’s official website, https://www.chevening.org/. Further details about the ‘Chevening/JN Oliver F Clarke Scholarship’ are available on the Chevening and JN Foundation websites at https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/ and www.jnfoundation.com respectively.