The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

STUDENTS enrolled at the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Sciences Institute will take part in a six week, paid internship programme after officials at the institution secured agreements with more than a dozen companies around the country.

BAMSI Executive Director Dr Raveenia Roberts-Hanna confirmed that 40 of the institution’s “brightest students” have been granted an opportunity for hands-on experience that will help them develop a greater appreciation for and understanding of their chosen field of study.

She noted that programme’s organisers were hopeful that students participating in the programme will be made aware of the “breadth of career opportunities available to them upon graduation.”

According to Dr Roberts-Hanna, many of the students follow one of three academic tracks.

She said with the end of the first academic year, students are preparing to transition into programme-specific internship opportunities that have been organised with industry partners and agencies in both the agriculture and marine sectors.

“Having been immersed in the theoretical framework that underpins the study of agriculture and marine science for the past nine months, the internship programme – which is part of a broader package that will see the government subsidise the students’ entrepreneurial efforts upon graduation – will support the practical exploration of their field of study, allowing students to witness what the classroom experience has helped them to be cognitively aware of.”

Regarded as an incremental step in the government’s long term vision to develop this nation’s agriculture industry and support Bahamians committed to working in the field, the 2015 Internship Programme has created an avenue for every BAMSI student to accelerate their learning curve.

Dr Roberts-Hanna said the programme further underscores the institute’s commitment to educate, prepare and develop capable, passionate and bright young minds who are ready to engage the agricultural sector in a meaningful and tangible way over the long-term.

Participating organisations include Atlantis, Paradise Fisheries, Heritage Seafood, Bahamas Agriculture Industrial Corporation (BAIC) through their offices in Nassau, Long Island and Exuma, Goodfellow Farms, Lucayan Tropical, Applehole Farms, HallsOrganic Farm, Bahamas National Trust through their offices in Andros and Eleuthera; Friends of the Environment and the Department of Forestry - Andros.

Dr Roberts-Hanna said that the programme “worked very hard” to arrange for many of the students to work within their communities. She explained that the opportunity for the students to see what good their skills could potentially bring to their communities would be a “tremendous boost to their understanding”.

The internship started on Monday.

Student will earn $175 a week.