Western Visayas recorded a total of 525 new science and technology scholars. The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) conducted the 2020 Undergraduate Scholarship Examination to some 7,160 aspiring young engineers and scientists last October 20, 2019 at designated exam venues in Region 6.
From the total number of the 2020 passers, 379 who belong to economically disadvantaged families qualified under the RA 7687 Scholarship grants, while 146 students are eligible under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program. Breakdown per province are as follows: Aklan 31, Antique 26, Capiz 29, Guimaras 15, Iloilo 209 and Negros Occidental 214 with one (1) qualifier who took the exam from outside Region 6. The complete list of qualifiers can be viewed at the DOST-SEI official website: www.sei.dost.gov.ph.
Qualifiers who avail of any of the S&T undergraduate scholarships may pursue a four- or five-year college degree in priority science and technology fields. As benefits both RA 7687 and Merit scholars will receive tuition subsidy and other school fees/Semester for those enrolled in private schools amounting to P20,000, a monthly stipend of P7,000, P10,000 for book allowance per academic year and a PE/MS uniform allowance of P1,000 for 1st Semester of the first academic year.
The scholarship qualifiers can enroll in state universities and colleges and other higher education institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Excellence or Centers of Development or with FAAP Level III accreditation, wherein they can take up priority science and technology courses.
Seven (7) additional accredited S&T courses were added – BS Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship, BS Clothing Technology, BS Speech Pathology, BS Architecture, BS in Technology and Livelihood Education with Specialization in Information and Communications Technology, BS Agribusiness, and BS Animal Husbandry.
In the recently concluded In Touch with Excellence, an event recognizing top S&T scholar graduates, DOST 6 Regional Director Rowen R. Gelonga addresses the scholar graduates in his inspiring speech, “You join the science and technology sector. It doesn’t matter whether you teach in the academe, whether you join in the government, whether you work with the private sector, or even in your medical endeavors as long as you get involved with science and technology-related activities. So that there will be more scientists and engineers that will develop to pair our socio-economic development.”
The goal is to produce quality science professionals and DOST hopes that the S&T scholars would become scientists and engineers who will be willing to work in the country in the near future. DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Program is the Department’s response to its mandate of accelerating the pace of knowledge-driven development in accordance with the S&T human resource growth potential in the country. (ssalazar/dost6)
