University of the Virgin Islands President David Hall and Nevis Premier Joseph Parry signed a memorandum of understanding Friday that will allow more Nevis students to attend UVI.

“Our students are looking forward to taking advantage of this educational opportunity as well as the exposure to various cultures of the Caribbean. There is much that we can learn from each other,” Parry said.

The agreement was approved by the UVI Board of Trustees on Oct. 27 and allows for graduates from the Nevis Sixth Form College to attend UVI at a reduced tuition rate of 1.75 times the rate for Virgin Islands residents. Full-time non-resident undergraduates now pay tuition nearly three times that of residents.

The Nevis Island Administration is promising to provide scholarships for Nevis students to attend UVI. There are currently 140 students attending the two-year college, with 10 to 12 now enrolled locally at the St. Thomas campus.

On hand to witness the event were UVI staff and students, including Nevis natives Abigail Parry and Aujeunelle Brown, both now sophomores majoring in business and accounting, respectively.

“This is an excellent chance to be able to attend such a prestigious school so close to home, and now it can be even more affordable for my parents,” said Brown afterwards.

This will be the first time that UVI has entered into a specific agreement with the government of a Caribbean nation. UVI is pursuing similar agreements with other Caribbean nations.