JIS Press Release, June 23, 2025
Students have until July 11 to apply for the Universal Service Fund (USF) Information
and Communications Technology (ICT) Scholarship for the 2025/26 academic year.
With the application period
officially opened today, June 23, five students from underserved communities across the island will
receive financial support to pursue academic studies in ICT locally.
The initiative targets individuals
who are former beneficiaries of the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), graduates of the USF Technology Advancement Programme (TAP) or have been members of a USF ICT Club for at least one year.
To qualify, applicants must be
Jamaican nationals under the age of 25 as of August 31, 2025; currently
residing in Jamaica and accepted into or enrolled in a bachelor’s degree
programme in ICT at a registered Jamaican tertiary institution. They must also
maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 or equivalent academic standing, demonstrate
financial need, and show active involvement in their communities.
The scholarship forms part of the
Fund’s 20th
anniversary year-long celebrations, which highlight its continued efforts to bridge the digital
divide and expand access to ICT across Jamaica.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the USF,
Charlton McFarlane, said the 2025 ICT Scholarship Programme reflects the agency’s broader
mandate to increase access to ICT, build local capacity, and equip the next
generation to drive Jamaica’s digital transformation.
“As we commemorate 20 years of
bridging the digital divide, we’re proud to continue investing directly in the
lives of Jamaica’s young people. It’s one thing to speak about digital access, it’s
another to see it in action, transforming lives,” the CEO said.
“Our past recipients are working
towards their dreams of becoming web developers, IT specialists, and tech
entrepreneurs. That’s what this scholarship is about – removing barriers and
making big dreams possible,” the CEO said.
Mr. McFarlane emphasised that the USF
remains committed to investing in Jamaica’s digital future by empowering the
youth with the tools and training needed to thrive in a technology-driven
world.
Since the scholarship’s inception in
2020, the USF has awarded more than $13 million in scholarships to students
across the island and plans to increase this investment for the 2025/26
academic year.
For more information and to apply, persons can visit
www.usf.gov.jm
