Two Fermanagh students will be taking a year of their studies away from home and spending it at colleges in the United States.
Karen Wray from Derrygonnelly and Elaine Maguire from Belcoo leave Fermanagh shortly to study business, Karen at Rocky Mountain College, Montana and Elaine at Albright College, Pennsylvania, as part of the British Council’s prestigious Study USA programme.
As part of the initiative, they received last minute advice and information at a pre-departure meeting in Belfast, before preparing to spend a year stateside.
The British Council, which is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations manages Study USA on behalf of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL).
The scholarship programme enables students to study business and management for a year in American colleges, across 34 States, where they gain valuable international experience and business knowledge, helping to develop their career prospects when they return to Northern Ireland. Speaking about the programme, David Alderdice, Director British Council Northern Ireland, said: “We know that the students departing for the US this year will be great ambassadors for Northern Ireland and will help to further long-term links and connections between our two countries. “The students will have the opportunity to learn from leading experts in their field and their future employability will be enhanced through internships, Ambassadorial presentations, and volunteer work in a really international context. Most importantly, our students will build links with counterparts in the United States that will last a lifetime.” The students were part of a group of 75 Northern Ireland students who were chosen for the scholarships after undergoing a competitive selection process to take part in the prestigious programme. Around 400 students from all colleges and universities in Northern Ireland applied for the programme earlier in the year.
The British Council, which is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, manages Study USA on behalf of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL).
For more information on Study USA or other opportunities through the British Council visit www.britishcouncil.org/northernireland-susa.htm or email opportunity@britishcouncil.org
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