AYV News, 23 August, 2024
The Embassy of Ireland has hosted the ten Sierra Leonean scholars who are heading to Ireland to pursue Masters Degrees during the 2024-2025 academic year.
This scholarship programme which has been in operation since 2014 provides full financial support to the successful candidates to pursue master’s qualifications in areas of interest that will enhance their professional careers.
The support is part of the deepening the long standing bilateral relationship between Ireland and Sierra Leone and will enhance Sierra Leone’s contribution to achieving the SDGs. Particularly, it is in line with the government’s big five game changers contributing to human capital development and revamping the civil service.
The successful candidates have all been selected from within the civil service and from partner organisations (9 from MDAs and 1 from the NGO Community).
Four of the candidates will be pursuing courses in the health sector, with two focused on global health, one on global mental health and one on international healthcare management. Three hope to acquire a master’s in law (LLM) focused on International Justice and on Human Rights law and public policy. The remaining three candidates are pursuing masters in economics and finance.
After completing their Master’s degree programmes in Ireland, these young and vibrant professionals will return to Sierra Leone and continue contributing to the country’s development.
These 10 will join the Sierra Leone professionals who have travelled and studied in Ireland under the scholarship programme over the past 10 years since 2014.
The Irish Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E. Aidan Fitzpatrick congratulated the 10 successful candidates and wished them an enjoyable and productive year in Ireland. He mentioned that Ireland has a very vibrant tertiary education system with the country having the one of the highest global third level education attainment rates. Ireland was the European country with the highest share of graduates in 2023, with almost 47 percent of those aged between 15 and 64 holding a degree.
This year a total of 243 students from across 48 countries will be supported by the Irish government to study at Master’s level in Ireland. With the 10 chosen scholars, Sierra Leone is strongly presented within this group, reflecting the calibre of candidates from our partner organisations. Ireland has been providing scholarships to partner countries for the past 45 years.
At the scholarship awards event the Ambassador also welcomed members of the recently constituted Sierra Leone Ireland Alumni group. ‘It is very encouraging to meet with and to hear of the efforts of the Alumni group in supporting future scholars and in exploring ways in which we can together strengthen the development, academic, cultural and trade links between Ireland and Sierra Leone’s.
During the celebrations members of the Alumni group were happy to share their experience in Ireland with the group of 10 who will depart for their studies.
While the application process for the 2025-2026 academic year has recently closed, the Embassy of Ireland assured the gathering that support will continue for the scholarship programme over the coming years. Details of the scholarship would be made available within the period of the circle of the scholarship scheme.