Bz. students get help from U.S. universities
As many people on the job hunt can tell you, the demand for university degrees in the work force is at an all time high. And with many aspiring students trapped by lack of finances and access, getting into a tertiary level institution is a big deal. It is within that context that this week Saint John’s Junior College is hosting several universities and colleges from the United States who are making it cheaper for our students to study abroad.
Alex Tillett, Associate Degree Student
“I study architecture, so I’m hoping that I find a school that has that course. There’s a chance that I might get a scholarship to play basketball, so I’m also thinking about that.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Have you found any of the universities around here today that is offering what you’re interested in?”
Alex Tillett
“HILO from Hawaii seems very promising right now. They’re about the only one that has everything I need.”
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
And everything the students needed to know about studying at COBEC institutions, was a display at an information fair held Wednesday at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall in Belize City. The event, which brought together hundreds of students, was sponsored by St. John’s Jr. College. Rick Bateman Jr. is the Dean of the institution.
Rick Bateman Jr., Dean, St. John’s College
“It gives students an opportunity to learn a little bit more about what studying in the United States is like. This college fair began with a workshop; what are their programmes that are being offered, what are some of the requirements for Belizeans studying in the U.S., how do some of the credits transfer, things of that nature. And then they get an opportunity to talk to individual representatives from the thirteen different colleges and universities represented by COBEC. They get brochures and literature, they get to learn a lot about campus life and what’s available to them at these universities outside of the academic programmes.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“In an effort to maybe stave off a bit of the culture shock when they go up?”
Rick Bateman
“Exactly, it’s extremely important. You might have noticed that there are a handful of Belizeans that are standing behind these desks alongside representatives from these COBEC universities, because they’ve been down that road already and there here to help avoid some of that culture shock as well.”
Studying abroad for most Belizean students means trying to get a scholarship or their having to incur huge expenses for tuition. However, COBEC, the Consortium for Belizean Educational Co-operation has kept tuition to a minimum for local students.
Established in the late 1980s with representatives from thirteen universities and colleges in Belize and the United States, the organisation fosters educational linkages between Belize and member institutions. Murray State University in Western Kentucky is a COBEC member.
Jim McCoy, Professor, Murray State University
“We offer the equivalent an out of state tuition waver for Belizean students. Belizean students pay the same tuition rate at Murray State, as Kentucky residents do. We explain that, and then we give them information that allows them to access out website, application forms, particular information on programmes.”
At present, twenty-eight men and women are part of the Belizean student population at Murray State.
Jim McCoy
“We offer a variety of graduate programmes in business and education, literature. We also offer a full gamut of undergraduate programmes. We’re here particularly alerting students about programmes that U.S. institutions may offer that are not yet offered through the University of Belize.”
Paulette Enriquez, a graduate of the former University College of Belize, who now works as the university’s assistant student affairs director, journeyed from Belmopan to attend the fair.
Paulette Enriquez, Prospective Grad. Student
“I brought students to find out about the different programmes that COBEC schools have to offer Belizean students.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“And you’re also here to find out for your own self. Tell me a little bit about what you are inquiring into.”
Paulette Enriquez
“I’m here to find out about the different graduate programmes that COBEC institutions have to offer Belizeans, in particular psychology, counselling psychology.”
Cynthia Thompson, Bz. Co-chair, COBEC
“It is providing an opportunity for the students of Belize to get first hand information from the representatives from the various universities about opportunities for the graduate students. It provides opportunities for them to hear about possible assistantships, in state tuition, that they can possibly get from the various universities represented here. For the undergrad student, it is an ideal opportunity for transfer for our junior colleges into a university, especially where the programmes that they want to study are not being offered at the University of Belize.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
Working sessions between Belizean education officials and COBEC representatives, aimed at strengthening the academic bonds of the institutions, begins on Friday and ends Saturday afternoon.
