USF ICT Education Grant applications close July 17

People looking for help to study or train in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and related digital disciplines have until Friday, July 17 to seek support under the Universal Service Fund (USF) ICT Education Grant Programme.

The scheme carries a combined purse of $3.1 million and will assist 12 Jamaicans across two award streams meant to deepen skills and enlarge the country’s digitally capable labour force.

Dana DeCordova Denton, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at the USF, said the grants show the Fund’s resolve to grow the talent Jamaica needs for digital transformation. “This is an excellent opportunity for individuals who are committed to advancing their education and contributing to Jamaica’s digital future, so applicants should present their strongest possible application,” she told JIS News.

Seven young people aged 17 to 28 will share the USF Emerging Digital Leaders Grant, each worth $300,000. Selection will weigh scholastic promise, leadership, community service and a clear drive to push Jamaica’s digital agenda forward.

Separately, five people will get the USF Digital Advancement and Professional Development Grant at $200,000 apiece. That stream is open to Jamaican citizens aged 30 to 40 who already hold at least an associate degree or Diploma and are continuing into undergraduate study to advance their careers.

“Over time, this investment in human capital will help address critical ICT skills gaps, foster greater productivity, and contribute to Jamaica’s competitiveness as a digitally enabled economy,” Mrs. DeCordova Denton told JIS News.

Candidates must turn in completed forms together with all supporting papers. “Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the eligibility criteria carefully, ensure all required documents are submitted before the deadline, and complete their applications accurately,” she said.

Forms, eligibility rules and programme details are posted on the USF website at www.usf.gov.jm. Mrs. DeCordova Denton added that the grants sit alongside the Fund’s broader push for digital inclusion, among them wider Community and Public Wi-Fi coverage, classroom technology support for schools, and efforts that lift digital literacy and ease of access to learning.