THE Caribbean Hotel Foundation Scholarship Fund says it is now accepting applications for scholarships and grants for the 2002/2003 academic year.

A news release from the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) said that scholarships are available for:

* full- and part-time students who will be or are currently pursuing a diploma or degree in hotel and restaurant management, culinary arts in two-year, four-year or graduate programme at an affiliated CHA institution;

* full-time employed professionals taking relevant hotel and tourism courses or participating in apprenticeship, work attachment or other specialised programmes; and

* Certified Caribbean Hospitality Trainers.

The CHA also said that assistance is availabe for co-funded scholarships for hospitality management, while grants are being offered to hotel and tourism educators seeking to improve their academic qualifications or complement their classroom time with hands-on work experience.

“Further education grants are awarded only for studies specifically related to teacher education for the hotel and tourism industry,” the CHA said. “Industry work experience grants, intended to supplement earnings, give educators experience in industry operations and, in turn, provide students with the benefits of learning from teachers with hands-on training.”

Most of the awards range from US$1,000 to US$5,000 each.
Last year, the Caribbean Hotel Foundation awarded 22 scholarships totalling US$50,000 to students who work in the Caribbean hotel and tourism sector.

Money for these scholarships and grants is generated by a number of fundraising activities held each year during the Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference and through donations from American Express and the CHA membership.

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