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EU Official Wants Liberians Apply For Erasmus+ Scholarships

MONROVIA, Nov. 13 (LINA) – The Head of Press and Information at the European Union (EU) Delegation to Liberia, Juan Antonio Frutos Goldaratz, has urged under-graduate Liberians to apply for the Erasmus+ scholarship program to benefit their personal lives and country’s socio-economic growth.

« We the EU Delegates are encouraging you all to not give up, although there will be some difficulty but keep trying and continue the entire process to give yourself the chance to present your application because it will provide you the knowledge and skills to contribute to Liberia, » Goldaratz said.

The Erasmus+ is an EU programme which supports projects, partnerships, events and mobility in areas of Education, Training, Youth and Sports.

The programme, which runs from 2014-2020, provides funding opportunities for cooperation in these areas, both among European countries and between European countries and partner countries throughout the world.

Speaking at a lecture series at the University of Liberia Fendell Campus on Wednesday, Goldaratz said the scholarship is a joint master degree programme which affords students to study in two to three European countries during the period of 12 -24 months.

According to him, many Liberian students have not had the opportunity to apply for the scholarship, adding that the EU Delegation here is pleading with all under-graduate students to apply to have more Liberian students benefit.

He said the grants are available to visiting scholars and guest lecturers who bring added value to the degree course, stating that they are open for questions on how to apply for the scholarship.

He added that since the Erasmus+ programme was launched in March 2014, more than 26,000 exchangers, involving applicants, faculties and African students have obtained Masters Degree.

For his part, one of the beneficiaries of the Erasmus+ scholarship, John Mayson, who recently obtained a Masters Degree in Coastal Engineering, admonished his compatriots to take advantage of “this golden opportunity,” noting that it will help improve their lives and provide experience which will make them “very valuable” to Liberia.

He indicated that students who are applying should not be deterred about the grade point for the scholarship, as the scholarship is more interested in experience and how well you can give back to your country.

Mayson noted that the programme has given him the requisite knowledge to contribute to his country positively, citing that Liberians who will obtain the scholarship should have the mindset to return home as he did in order to help develop their nation.