The legacy of the Jamaican track and field team's stay in Birmingham will live on and inspire even more young people in the form of a brand new scholarship at the University of Birmingham, launched today.
The legacy of the Jamaican track and field team’s stay in Birmingham will live on and inspire even more young people in the form of a brand new scholarship at the University of Birmingham, launched today.
The University, which hosted the Jamaican team’s pre-London 2012 preparations, has joined forces with the Jamaica National Building Society, who also worked with the University to support the training camp, to offer the scholarship, endorsed by His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, Governor-General of Jamaica through his I Believe Initiative - a programme to restore hope, belief and sound values in Jamaican families, young people and education.
The University of Birmingham and Jamaica National Foundation Legacy Scholarship will be open to Jamaican students who are eligible to study for Master’s programmes at the University’s Birmingham Business School.
The idea for the scholarship was first raised at a charity dinner hosted by the University for Usain Bolt and his teammates, with a charity auction raising funds towards the plan.
The subsequent scholarship is a part of the 2012 Olympic Legacy Programme.
Professor Edward Peck, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of College of Social Sciences said: “There is much talk of the legacy of the London Olympics but this scholarship being offered by the Jamaica National Building Society and the University of Birmingham is evidence of the partnerships that have been deepened by this unforgettable sporting event.
“The scholarship provides a unique opportunity for an outstanding Jamaican student to study a Master’s programme within our Business School and is another step in strengthening the bonds of friendship between Jamaica and the City and University of Birmingham.”
The scholarship will provide three one-year scholarships over three years, with the first student starting in September 2014. Students will be able to select from 19 courses offered by Birmingham Business School, and will be given the opportunity to represent Jamaica by becoming a Student Ambassador, for their country.
Earl Jarrett, General Manager of Jamaica National, said: “The University of Birmingham and Jamaica National Foundation Legacy Scholarship is providing an opportunity for awardees to matriculate at an educational institution, which challenges them academically, while fostering and promoting excellence. This will result in Jamaica benefitting from their expertise, on their return, as leaders in the field of business.”
“Birmingham is well known to be the home of a significant percentage of Jamaicans in the UK Diaspora; and, therefore, offering this educational programme, will serve to strengthen the relationship between that city and our country.”
The scholarship is open to Jamaican citizens who are graduates of Jamaican tertiary institutions within the past two years and are living in Jamaica at the time of application for the scholarship. As part of the programme, the successful student will participate in community outreach initiatives hosted by the University, Jamaica National Building Society and the Jamaican High Commission in the United Kingdom.
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Photographers, film crews and reporters are invited to attend the launch event.
For more information, or to arrange photography or interviews, contact Kara Bradley at the University of Birmingham on 0121 414 5134 or k.j.bradley@bham.ac.uk
