This year, 254 Salvadorans have been granted scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies in various countries, thanks to the collaboration of partner nations through the Salvadoran Agency for International Cooperation (ESCO).
Supported countries include Japan, South Korea, Spain, China, Turkey, Romania, and Chile, among others.
ESCO’s Director, Karla de Palma, aims to exceed 300 scholarship recipients next year and expand partnerships. The goal is for scholars to give back to El Salvador, exemplified by the 162 Chinese scholarship recipients who plan to share their knowledge upon completing their studies.
Of the 254 scholarships, 252 are fully funded, covering travel, accommodation, living expenses, and tuition. The remaining two are partial scholarships, requiring recipients to contribute to some costs. ESCO also offers short courses and diploma programs.
The ESCO website provides information on current opportunities, with ongoing calls for applications in Belgium, Chile, Spain, the United States, India, and Mexico. Eligible candidates include high school graduates, professionals, public and private sector employees, civil society members, and academics.
Since its establishment in June 2020, ESCO has awarded a total of 1,113 scholarships, comprising 779 full scholarships and 334 partial scholarships. This initiative reflects El Salvador’s commitment to nurturing a skilled workforce for national development.