Ambassador Dr. John Ashe, Maurice Merchant, TC Westcott, Dr. Sunil Kumar and Provost Dr. Erich Kunhardt following the signing ceremony View photos»

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda today signed a partnership agreement with Polytechnic University of New York, whereby the latter will offer six (6) annual scholarships -- at the undergraduate and graduate levels -- to qualified students from Antigua and Barbuda at its main campus in Brooklyn, New York, beginning in September 2007.

Mr. Maurice Merchant, Chairman of the Independence Scholarship Committee, signed on behalf of the Government, and Ms. TC Westcott, Vice President, Finance and Administration signed on behalf of Polytechnic University. Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost Dr. Sunil Kumar and Provost Dr. Erich Kunhardt were also present at the signing.

"Today was a very significant day in the life of the United Progressive Party Administration as we were able to secure an arrangement with a prestigious university in the US which will enable qualified young men and women from our country to have access to educational opportunities so as to contribute positively to the development of their nation," said Merchant.

Merchant also thanked Ambassador to the United Nations Dr. John Ashe for initiating the discussions with Dr. Sunil Kumar. "Ambassador Ashe has been extremely supportive of Prime Minister Spencer's mission of providing higher education to the nation's youth which he says creates a culture of excellence that positions Antigua and Barbuda to take advantage of the many opportunities that exist on the local, regional and international scale," he said He also stated that the Government is delighted that Polytechnic University has decided to partner with them to educate the people of Antigua and Barbuda by the provision of scholarships.

"I am certain that the excellence with which the 150 year old institution prides itself will have positive impacts on the first batch of six scholarship recipients from Antigua and Barbuda, thereby benefiting Antigua and Barbuda.

"We are happy to be able to partner with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in their quest to provide Antiguans and Barbudans with quality higher-education. This is part of our goal to ensure that quality education is provided to all those who need it," Ms. Wescott said. In addition to the partnership agreement, the Polytechnic University has also agreed to assist the government in developing distance learning capabilities in Antigua and Barbuda, and will be sending instructors to the twin-island nation to conduct courses in various fields of study during the summer months.

Polytechnic University, which was founded in 1854 in Brooklyn, New York, is the second oldest private engineering school in the United States. Among its many graduates and faculty are Nobel laureates, notable inventors, world class scientists and successful entrepreneurs. Today, it is the New York metropolitan area's preeminent institutional resource in science and technology education and research.

The University is a private, coeducational institution with a distinguished tradition in electrical engineering, polymer chemistry and other engineering disciplines. It has also established itself as a leader in telecommunications, information science, technology management, digital media and biotechnology. The University is also known for its outstanding research centers as well as its outreach programs to encourage math and science education in New York elementary and high schools. In addition to its main campus at MetroTech Center in Brooklyn, Polytechnic offers programmes at sites throughout the region, including Long Island, Manhattan and Westchester.

The University offers an innovative curriculum that introduces students to engineering in the freshmen year and emphasizes projects requiring teamwork and a multidisciplinary approach, and its graduate division has a strong international reputation. The University is among the most successful institutions in the United States in producing science and engineering graduates who go on to earn PhD degrees. (Ends)