A Suriname-based enterprise, the Kersten Group of Companies, is stepping up to expand access to higher education with a landmark $50,000 investment in a new scholarship initiative for students at Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS). Named the Kersten Study Scholarship, the program is designed to remove financial barriers for high-potential students who would otherwise be unable to start or complete their university degrees due to limited financial means or challenging personal circumstances.
Launched in formal partnership between Kersten Group and AdeKUS, the scholarship prioritizes students who can demonstrate strong academic ability and clear motivation to succeed, but require external financial support to advance their studies. University board chair Virginia Asin-Oostburg and Kersten Group CEO Vishal Jadnanansing marked the launch with an official signing ceremony to formalize the collaboration, captured in an official event photograph.
Company leaders framed the timing of the initiative as particularly strategic, as Suriname enters a period of major economic transformation anchored by the rapid expansion of the nation’s oil and gas sectors. For the country to fully capitalize on the emerging economic opportunities that will unfold over the coming decade, Kersten Group argues that intentional investment in education and local talent development is non-negotiable. Without investing in people, the benefits of new economic growth cannot be equitably shared across Surinamese communities.
“Through the Kersten Study Scholarship, we are not only investing in individual students — we are investing in the future of Suriname,” Jadnanansing shared during the signing ceremony. He emphasized that the private sector carries a core responsibility to create pathways for young, talented people to thrive. “When we invest in education today, we are building the professionals, innovators, and leaders that Suriname will need tomorrow,” he added.
For Kersten Group, the scholarship program is a core component of the company’s broader corporate social responsibility strategy. The firm holds that sustainable business practice extends far beyond generating profit and economic growth; it requires active investment in the long-term development of the local community. Through this partnership, both Kersten Group and AdeKUS aim to build a more inclusive education ecosystem where talent can flourish regardless of a student’s socioeconomic background.
Students interested in applying for the scholarship can reach out for program-specific inquiries to the Faculty of Medical Sciences at anushka.jhinnoe@uvs.edu or the Faculty of Technological Sciences at denise.sumter@uvs.edu. General questions about the initiative can be directed to the Kersten Group via email at donation@kersten.sr.