Following last year’s announcement by the GraceKennedy (GK) Group that it would be launching a digital upskilling programme for young Caribbean nationals, its GraceKennedy Foundation (GKF) has indicated that it will be expanding the initiative to provide scholarships for students in Jamaica pursuing careers in digital technology. 

Applications are now being accepted by GKF for its new  ‘GK Digital Institute’ scholarship programme, which will offer seven scholarships in 2022, each valued at J$200,000.

The scholarships are open to qualified applicants in their second year at the University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Technology (UTech), the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA), and Northern Caribbean University (NCU) who are enrolled in digitally focused undergraduate degree programmes.

Caroline Mahfood, GK Foundation CEO, commented: “We are really excited about expanding our scholarship programme to align with GK’s Digital Transformation agenda.”

Mahfood added: “It’s all about training young talent for jobs of the future, which supports the development of creative, tech savvy young people for the benefit of our company and our nation’s digital agenda.”

Recipients of the scholarship will automatically qualify for a summer internship in GK’s Digital Factory, which was launched in early 2021. GK’s Digital Institute will also provide on-the-job exposure through coaching and mentorship of the students.

Applications are now open for the GK Digital Institute scholarships here and close April 20. Successful applicants will begin their internship with GK’s Digital Factory in June 2022. 

Digital jobs apply information and communications technologies (ICT) to the development and enhancement of business processes, products, and services. Digital disciplines include data analytics and science, digital marketing and strategy, digital design and data visualisation, and programming, web, and app development.