The Department of Science and Technology–Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) has welcomed 785 college students who made it to the 2020 Junior Level Science Scholarships (JLSS) program.

The DOST-SEI conducted on Aug. 18 a virtual orientation for the JLSS qualifiers to brief them on scholarship policies and procedures.

“We are excited to welcome you to our growing DOST-SEI Family,” DOST-SEI Director Josette T. Biyo said in her opening remarks.

JLSS is a program for incoming regular third year college students who are enrolled in priority science and technology courses.

The Institute said of the 785 JLSS qualifiers, 170 are from the National Capital Region (NCR).

DOST-SEI normally hosts a series of face-to-face orientation with NCR qualifiers, but due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it decided to host a virtual orientation prior to the signing of the Scholarship Agreement.

“The difficulties brought about by the COViD-19 pandemic have led many institutions to cease holding of mass gatherings, which include the conduct of the face-to-face scholarship examination and the scholarship orientation. The virtual conduct of the orientation shall kick-off the partnership between the DOST-SEI and the scholarship qualifiers,” Biyo said.

During the orientation, the provisions of the Scholarship Agreement, and access to the Scholar’s Portal were tackled.

The JLSS is among DOST-SEI’s undergraduate scholarship programs, which aims to support education of third year college students enrolled in priority science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses from identified academic institutions.

The program has three component programs: Republic Act No. 7687 program, which is meant for socioeconomically challenged students; b) Merit program, which is aimed at students with high aptitude in STEM; and c) RA No. 10612, a program that aims to accelerate the production of science and mathematics teachers in secondary schools.