The University of the Virgin Islands and the Nevis Island Administration signed a historic agreement on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, designed to attract more students from Nevis to UVI.
The
Honorable Joseph Parry, the premiere of Nevis, visited UVI's St.
Thomas campus to join UVI President Dr. David Hall in signing the
memorandum of understanding establishing the agreement. Under the
agreement, graduates from the Nevis Sixth Form College will be
allowed to attend UVI at a tuition rate of 1.75 times the rate
charged to residents of the Virgin Islands, less than the normal
non- resident tuition rate. The agreement covers both undergraduate
and graduate programs. It also commits the Nevis Island
Administration to provide scholarships or annual financial support
for students from Nevis who choose to study at UVI. The agreement
is historic as it represents the first time that UVI has entered
into a specific agreement with the government of a Caribbean
nation. UVI's Board of Trustees approved the agreement at its
regular meeting on Oct. 27.
More photos from the signing are available from the
photoblog UVI
Today...
"I see this as a wonderful day for UVI, but I also see this as a wonderful day for Nevis," Dr. Hall said. "We have had some outstanding students from Nevis who have not only performed well in the classroom, but have been student leaders. We know that we are tapping into a dynamic and well-trained reservoir of talent," Dr. Hall added.
Premiere Parry said that his government touts a mantra of education, which has the ability to create economic mobility. "We encourage our students to go to the Caribbean to get their first degree," Premiere Parry said. "These exchanges will help to bring the islands closer together and help strengthen the bonds between the islands."
Two students from Nevis who are among those already studying at UVI, Aujeunelle Brown a sophomore accounting major and Abigail Parry, a freshman business major, joined UVI administrators on hand for the signing and subsequent news conference.