Antiguan and Barbudan students will soon receive scholarships to pursue tertiary level studies in the Czech Republic.
The offer was made on Monday by the new Czech ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, Miroslav Stasek, during a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs, E. P. Chet Greene.
The ambassador generously offered to personally contact the presidents of several universities in the Czech Republic to negotiate opportunities for Antiguan and Barbudan students to pursue higher education.
He said the scholarships will cover several areas of study including water management and energy.
Stasek suggested, however, that special opportunities exist for those desirous of pursuing education in hospitality related disciplines as the Czech Republic has special expertise in this area.
The ambassador noted that while his country has a relatively small population of about ten million, each year it welcomes approximately 15 million visitors, making tourism a major industry for his country.
Minister Greene welcomed the offer of the scholarships but also proposed that Czech students could also pursue studies in Antigua and Barbuda at the University of the West Indies Five Island Campus.
Greene noted that the government has secured a US$80 million loan to expand the UWI FCI with the addition of classrooms, faculty and student housing, administration blocks, sports and cultural facilities.
Greene pointed out that the UWI enjoys an excellent international reputation for the range and quality of globally accredited academic disciplines it offers.
The UWI FIC’s expansion will also allow it to increase the number of courses it offers.
Ambassador Stasek gave commitment that he will immediately set to work securing scholarships to facilitate the educational development of the people of Antigua and Barbuda and the Czech Republic.
