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Basseterre, St. Kitts , April 21, 2017-As part of a project funded by the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund, the St. Kitts and Nevis Chevening Alumni Association has launched a series of videos called “Alternative Career Pathways”. The video series explores six of many areas that are important to the development of St. Kitts and Nevis, but in which there is currently a shortage of expertise. Practitioners in the areas of forensic science, agriculture, social work, psychiatry, information and communication technology and pure and applied sciences, speak to their professions in the hopes that persons would be encouraged to consider careers in those fields.

 

According to the SKN Chevening Association Leader, Ms. Sonia Boddie, the project is very timely. “The St. Kitts and Nevis Chevening Association is founded on the principles of people empowerment and nation –building. In that regard, having done our research and assessment of the developmental needs of our country, we felt that there was no better time than now, to make an intervention and embark on this initiative. The project not only allows us to raise awareness of the gaps that need to be filled, so more locals can endeavor to become trained in these areas, and make themselves more marketable in the local job market, but provides an opportunity for us to further equip potential University students with the knowledge they need to apply for scholarships and prepare for University life.”

 

The Alternative Career Pathways video series can be found on YouTube or on the Association’s Facebook page (St. Kitts and Nevis Chevening Alumni Group). It is the second phase of a three-part project geared towards promoting masters’ level education, the Chevening Alumni network and the Chevening scholarship programme. The first phase, which took place in August 2016, was the “Get Set and Ready for University” seminars in Nevis and St. Kitts where prospective university students were invited to hear presentations on topics such as choosing a university, what to do before leaving for university, financing university (how to apply for scholarships and loans) and making the best of university life. Information of the 2017 edition of these seminars will be released shortly.

 

The final phase of the project will be a live panel discussion on ZIZ TV on Monday 24^th April 2017 at 8:30 p.m., which will be simultaneously broadcasted on Nevis Digicel Play channel 99 and www.nevistvonline.com.  The panel comprising of

Chevening alumni, a representative from the Human Resource Department of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and Mr. Ciaran Phillip (a local forensic science technician), will consider whether focused action needs to be taken to encourage persons into non-traditional career pathways and the best ways to encourage this, if necessary. Essentially, the discussion will explore should students be encouraged to choose an area of study that they are personally passionate about or should they be guided by the needs of the local, regional or international community?

 

Comments or questions on this topic, the Association or the Chevening scholarship can be sent to the Association’s Facebook page or to sknchevening@gmail.com.