Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Wang Jinfeng reaffirmed China’s commitment to advancing education in Jamaica through the Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship. The annual award provides tuition support to tertiary students across a range of disciplines. The ambassador gave the assurance during the scholarship handing-over ceremony on Friday, January 30, at UTech, Jamaica, Papine Campus, where eight students received a total of $1.6 million in funding for the 2025/2026 academic year.
This year’s recipients are: La-Shaun Boothe, Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Latoneice Delisser and Brae-Hannah Pinnock, College of Business and Management, Rory Dixon and Ishmeal Smythe, Joint Colleges of Medicine, Oral Health and Veterinary Sciences, along with Tara Kelly, Brandy Williams and Paul Williams from the College of Health Sciences.
Underscoring the longstanding partnership between Jamaica and the People’s Republic of China in higher education, Ambassador Wang noted, “For more than a decade, the Chinese Embassy in Jamaica has partnered with UTech to offer the Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship, supporting almost 60 high-achieving students to complete their studies and pursue their dreams, injecting positive energy into China-Jamaica friendship.” He affirmed that the Embassy will continue to support the programme, describing it as “a cornerstone of bilateral education cooperation.”
The Ambassador also recognized UTech, Jamaica as a leading regional institution that has produced outstanding graduates whose skills contribute to socio-economic development globally. He commended the University’s leadership for recently onboarding a Chinese language educator, noting that the introduction of Chinese language instruction further demonstrates the shared commitment to China-Jamaica educational cooperation.
Dr. Kevin Brown, President of the University of Technology, Jamaica, expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy and the People’s Republic of China for their continued support. Emphasizing the importance of scholarships in expanding access to higher education, Dr. Brown stated, “Without scholarships and generous donations such as those from the People’s Republic of China, some of our students may not get this opportunity. When they do, however, they go on to achieve greatness.”
He further noted that the Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship supports Jamaica’s goal of increasing tertiary participation. “Only 27% of eligible young people enter tertiary institutions,” he said. “We need to increase that to around 50–60%.” Achieving this target, he added, will require sustained investment in education.
The President also commended the recipients for their academic excellence and initiative in applying for the award. “I want to congratulate you for not only excelling academically but also taking the step to apply for this scholarship,” Dr. Brown said.
Responding on behalf of her fellow awardees, Tara Kelly, nursing student from the College of Health Sciences expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Embassy of China and the People’s Republic of China. Kelly stated that the scholarship reduces financial burdens on students, allowing them to focus on their studies.
“Your commitment to empowering students aligns strongly with our university’s guiding principle of excellence through knowledge, a value that continues to shape our academic and personal developments,” acknowledged the thankful scholarship recipient. She also thanked the team at UTech, Jamaica’s Scholarship Office for forging partnerships with diplomatic and corporate organisations to enable financial aid for promising students. “We are profoundly thankful and will strive to make the most of this opportunity,” she committed.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Miss)
Corporate Communications Manager
Corporate Communications Unit
University of Technology, Jamaica
237 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6
Tel: (876) 927-1680-8 Ext: 2299
Cell: (876) 818-5893
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm
