CONTINUING its mission to bridge the gap between academia and the manufacturing and distribution industry, the Seprod Group has launched the Seprod Innovation Scholarship, aimed at developing the next generation of business leaders while equipping them to solve real world industry challenges.

As part of this pioneering effort, two exceptional graduate students from the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) at The University of the West Indies, Mona, have been named the first recipients of the award.

Peter-Gay Eddy, a Master of Business Administration student, and Carmich Davidson-Stewart, who is pursuing a Master of Science in Marketing and Data Analytics, were each awarded $300,000 in tuition support.

Funded by the Seprod Foundation, the Seprod Innovation Scholarship goes beyond financial assistance. It represents a strategic investment in talent, research, and the future of Jamaica’s business landscape.

The award forms part of a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Seprod and MSBM. Under this agreement, Seprod will award two scholarships annually to second-year graduate students while engaging them directly in projects designed by the company to mirror real business environments.

In addition to their academic pursuits, awardees will gain firsthand experience through Seprod’s Industrial Internship Programmes.

These internship opportunities include an eight-week summer programme between June and August, and a 12-month graduate internship upon completion of their degrees.

These placements will immerse students in the daily corporate operations and strategic decision-making processes within Jamaica’s largest manufacturing and distribution company.

According to Osric Forrest, learning and development manager for the Seprod Group, the initiative is a natural extension of the company’s commitment to driving innovation and national development.

“Our collaboration with MSBM reflects Seprod’s belief that the future of Jamaican industry lies in the hands of well-equipped, critically thinking professionals. In today’s competitive job market, having a value-added edge is crucial.

“A postgraduate degree in business, marketing or data analytics, enhanced with industrial experience from Seprod, gives students a real advantage by demonstrating their commitment to professional growth and mastery,” said Forrest.

“Through our programmes students gain exposure to opportunities in areas such as brand management, marketing analytics, warehousing operations, and data analysis. By aligning our business needs with the academic process we’re creating a pipeline of talent that is ready to lead,” added Forrest.