Taiwan grants record number of scholarships this year to St. Lucia

Taipei, June 30 (CNA) A record number of students from St. Lucia have been granted scholarships this year by the Taiwan government, mainly because of the good performance of those already studying in Taiwan, according to Taiwan's ambassador to the Caribbean country.

Taiwan Ambassador to St. Lucia Tom Chou said Wednesday that with the support and promotional efforts of the St. Lucian government, more and more students have been applying for Taiwan scholarships.

In 2007, after Taiwan and St. Lucia resumed diplomatic ties, four students were granted scholarships to study in Taiwan. Since then the number has been increasing annually to five in 2008, nine in 2009, and 14 this year, he said at a scholarship award ceremony at St. Lucia's National ICT Center.

Alongside the increase in numbers, the quality of the students' performance has also been improving, Chou said, adding that universities in Taiwan have spoken well about the St. Lucian students.  Half of the 14 scholarship winners this year will be funded under the Taiwan Scholarship Program, and the other half under Taiwan's International