31 Belizeans are getting a doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University in Florida which has worked out a partnership programme with the University of Belize. Today they held a conference to solidify their partnership and discuss shared goals. Imani Morrison, the Chairman of the UB Board told us why it is important to the university’s ambitions.

Imani Morrison, UB President
“It is a tremendous accomplishment, it’s only been one year though and so they’ve just gotten started. It is very demanding on the students, they are down from 36 to 31 but the research initiatives that they have planned is exciting for us.”

“It is the first conference that I see a group of students, first year doctoral students putting a congress together and their main topic is applied research, that is very significant. I have never seen that in other countries. We have 12 years of doing this and I see there is a lot of enthusiasm. We’re only 33% of the way, we have 66% to go so it is long way to go. However the enthusiasm is there, the desire is there, the passion certainly, and given a little more gasoline I think they’re going to go all the way.”

Armando Rodriquez, Nova Southeastern University
“We really believe in the development of individuals and the only way you can bring people up in social and economic standard is by improving the educational system, so for us in particular it is essential to do that.”

Imani Morrison,
“A lot of what’s being put into it comes from the students themselves who have to sacrifice so much to be a part of it.”

Col. Reuel Black, Doctoral Student
“It is in Belize, it doesn’t take me away from home. It is cheaper, it is more accessible to finance because I have the support here at home in Belize and I have the time to do it. You have to make a lot of adjustments in your life, you have to balance work, family, and the studies and the studies take up a lot of time. For example I changed my lifestyle to do my homework from 2 in the morning until 6 in the morning because there is no disturbance.”

The programme runs until 2010.