Residents of eight member territories across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) now have the chance to gain industry-aligned advanced digital training through a new round of fully supported scholarships, launched to close regional digital skill gaps and boost participation in the global tech economy.
Application windows for the 2026 cohort of the OECS Advanced Digital Skills Scholarship Programme opened September 10 and will remain open through September 20, 2026, the OECS Commission announced in an official press statement. The initiative is funded as part of the World Bank-backed Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP), and all training will be delivered by The University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus. CARDTP’s core mission is to expand access to high-level digital capability building across the Eastern Caribbean subregion.
This second intake of scholars, called Cohort II, comes after the successful completion of the programme’s inaugural cohort earlier in 2026, which saw more than 200 participants earn industry-recognized certifications. Eligible applicants hold citizenship in any of the following OECS territories: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Anguilla.
The scholarship programme covers an extensive list of in-demand technology and business-aligned specializations. Core technical fields include full-stack web development, mobile and native application development, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, data analytics, database administration, UX/UI design, fintech, blockchain, graphics design and digital animation, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), enterprise network administration, system architecture and virtualization, and data security. For professionals seeking to transition to digital-focused business roles, the programme also offers training in digital marketing, e-learning instructional design, project management, business analysis, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and e-commerce strategy.
Regional officials note that the programme is designed to address two pressing challenges facing the OECS: a widespread shortage of workers with specialized advanced digital skills, and low workforce readiness for digital-first roles. By upskilling local workers, the initiative aims to foster a new generation of tech-focused innovators and entrepreneurs that can drive inclusive, long-term economic growth across the subregion.
All training focuses on practical, hands-on skill building aligned with current international industry demand, meaning participants graduate with competencies that open doors to regional employment, cross-border remote work opportunities, and global career advancement. Beyond individual career outcomes, the programme feeds directly into a larger regional strategy to build the OECS Digital Skills Bank, a searchable, centralized talent pool of certified advanced digital professionals. Regional leaders expect this formal talent pool will help attract new technology-focused foreign direct investment, strengthen the overall capacity of the regional workforce, and improve the Eastern Caribbean’s overall competitiveness in the fast-growing global digital economy.
Both the OECS Commission and the UWI Global Campus have reaffirmed their shared commitment to expanding access to digital skills training that equips local citizens to participate fully in the global digital economy, and to support ongoing digital transformation efforts across every participating OECS member territory.
Eligible candidates can access full programme details, official eligibility criteria, application instructions, and the official application form via the scholarship programme’s dedicated online application portal.