The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations announced today the awarding of "José Medeiros Ferreira" for the academic year 2016/2017 to Henrique Cordeiro Fonseca, a 23-year old young man from Ribeira Grande on São Miguel Island.
 
"It is with great satisfaction that I can announce that, once again, one of the Azorean applicants was selected in the difficult admission tests to the College of Europe. In this particular case, this student graduated in European Studies and International Policy from the University of the Azores," said Rodrigo Oliveira. The government official spoke after the signing of the scholarship contract for attendance in the postgraduate course on European Interdisciplinary Studies.
 
Rodrigo Oliveira also pointed out that this "is also the first time that an Azorean scholarship holder will attend a course taught at campus of Natolin in Warsaw, Poland." The government official emphasised that Henrique Fonseca "is already the fourth scholarship holder that will start or conclude specialised training in EU matters in the last four years. This situation is in full compliance with the goals of the XI Government of the Azores, ensuring the improvement of technical knowledge and the interest of young Azoreans in the defence of the Region's external interests."
 
The session was attended by Carlos Amaral, holder of the Jean Monnet Chair, who has been a partner of the Region in national admission tests and a member of the jury in the scholarship granting process. The event was also attended by a group of students of the 2015/2016 course of the College of Europe.
 
"The presence of students attending the College of Europe from Portugal and other countries, such as Belgium, Italy and Moldova, who are visiting the Azores at the initiative of Azorean students Roberto Pacheco and Filipa Machado, clearly demonstrates that our students are true Ambassadors of the Azores among other students attending this renowned educational institution. And I am sure that they will continue to do so in their professional future, namely in the areas related to the European Union," said the Regional Secretary.
 
Rodrigo Oliveira also had the opportunity to make a presentation on the Azores to the student group from the College of Europe students, focusing on the relation between the Region and the European Union, interregional cooperation and Azorean communities in the Diaspora.
 
The "José Medeiros Ferreira" scholarship aims to "honour the remarkable Azorean professor, researcher and politician," said Rodrigo Oliveira. This full scholarship is granted by the Government of the Azores and includes tuition fees, accommodation and food, as well as a round-trip airline ticket between the student's area of residence in the archipelago and the course is being attended.
 
The awarding of this scholarship requires a series of obligations and availability to collaborate with the Government of the Azores.
 
In the academic year 2015/2016, the "José Medeiros Ferreira" was granted to Roberto Costa Pacheco for attendance in the postgraduate degree in Political and Administrative Studies in Bruges, Belgium. Furthermore, a private entity awarded a scholarship to Filipa Santos Machado. Both are graduates from the University of the Azores.
 
In previous academic years, students Margarida Rodrigues and Constança Freitas received this scholarship and both have concluded traineeships in European. Currently, they are working in EU institutions located in Luxembourg and Brussels.