From February third to the fifth the University of Belize hosted the
board meeting of officials of the European Commission and representatives of
fifteen Erasmus Mundus member universities from Europe, Africa and Pacific countries
including Belize. Today at the conclusion of the meeting in Belize the media
was introduced to one of the first scholars from Belize to the programme and
was also briefed on how this new partnership will contribute in a substantive
manner to the national university’s overall goal to afford the opportunity
for students, its faculty and staff to obtain Master’s Degrees. Jacqueline
Godwin reports.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Today marked the continuing working relationship between the Erasmus Mundus
Scholarship Programme funded by the European Union and the University of Belize.
Dr. Angel Cal, Interim Provost – UB
“Erasmus is one of the oldest European universities, oldest, and so
its in reference to that very old European university and Mundus of course refers
to the world.”
In 2008 UB secured nine scholarships for its faculty, staff and students. Six
of those scholarships were for Master’s Degrees at European Universities
and three of the scholarships were for one month staff exchanges.
Dr. Angel Cal,
“It will take too long for the national university to develop a whole
menu of graduate level programs but we have to start looking at them. In the
meantime we look for opportunities not only for UB students but also for Belizean
students in general to go and further their education. Now the first step beyond
the Bachelor’s is the Master’s but Erasmus Mundus provides for both
Master’s and Doctoral programs.
What is a little untraditional, because most of our people tend to go North
America, Caribbean, even Latin America but not many have the opportunity to
go to Europe. Now this is the opening of a door that will provide another major
opportunity for our people.”
Like UB Lecturer Tracy Sangster, an Erasmus Mundus scholar who attained her 
Master’s Degree in English in Berlin in 2008.
Tracy Sangster, Lecturer - UB Faculty of Education/Arts
“There is a whole move for upgrading staff and faculty and so I fell
into that category, I had to undergraduate degrees but I needed to get my Master’s
in order for me to really function in academia in the way I should and so UB
facilitated that.”
The Erasmus Mundus Scholarships one of many EU funded projects are highly competitive
for both the students and the universities.
Renata Russell, Official - European Commission
“Belizean students and academics can apply for any of the courses
that are available. They will compete with the entire world because this is
the students from all over outside Europe who are allowed to compete and if
they are selected, there is no real limit to how many courses they can access
or how many students. Potentially there could be many more Belizean benefiting
from Master’s courses. It is up to the individual to take the advantage
and responsibility and be proactive.
There were various partnerships that were bidding or applying to get the
project. The partnership where UB is participating received the highest score,
they were considered the strongest grouping and in consequence they were the
ones who received the funds. So it is all very competitive, we do not choose,
we provide the opportunity and those who are good, who are proactive, who demonstrate
their ability to receive and to host students will receive the funds.”
Tracy Sangster,
“The world is there for us and nothing is beyond our reach so we just
to position ourselves and work hard and accomplish our goals.”
Dr. Angel Cal,
“This has started so now we’re looking forward to another round
and hoping that it will be funded so that more of our folks can go to European
universities.”
Reporting for 7News Jacqueline Godwin.
It was also announced that the European Office in Belize which has
been closed for sometime because of budgetary reasons will now reopen on April
first.
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