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 Cooperation and Development Fund.

Chou said that Taiwan's success in technology is based on its emphasis on education, and he hopes the St. Lucian students who obtain Taiwan scholarships can become the backbone of their country's development.

St. Lucia's Human Resource Development Minister Leonard Montoute and Education Minister Arsene James both said at the ceremony that apart from the main course of study, the scholarship students have an opportunity to learn Mandarin and to experience different cultures.

The two ministers also encouraged the students to be cultural ambassadors for their country while in Taiwan and to return to make a contribution to St. Lucia's development. (By Kay Liu) enditem /pc

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Source: http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aEDU&ID=201006300033