UTech President leads Dialogue on the Future of Education and Diaspora Partnerships

Dr. Kevin Brown, President, University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica) and Chair of the Programme and Content Committee for the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference, led a high-level Education Plenary Session focused on strengthening Jamaica’s education system through diaspora collaboration.

Held on Monday, June 15, 2026, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, the session brought together government leaders, education experts, technology specialists and diaspora partners to explore strategies for building a more resilient, innovative and future-ready education sector. It featured contributions from Senator Dr. The Honourable Dana Morris Dixon, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information; Mr. Andrew Lee, Chief Executive Officer, e-Learning Jamaica Limited; Dr. Anthony Munroe, President, Borough of Manhattan Community College; and Ms. Kay Green, STEM Education Consultant based in the United Kingdom.

Opening the discussion, Dr. Brown reflected on his own diaspora experience, noting, “Having spent 23 years in the United Kingdom, I know that education is something that the diaspora cares about.” He encouraged members of the Jamaican diaspora to share their expertise, resources and networks to support the continued transformation of Jamaica’s education system.

Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon highlighted the Government’s efforts to rebuild and strengthen the education sector following the impact of Hurricane Melissa. She revealed that the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has allocated $18 billion to support the rebuilding of damaged schools across the island.

“Schools cannot simply be rebuilt to what existed before…we had to do new building codes for schools,” she noted, adding, “we’re building resilience into the rebuilding…it means that repairs will take longer, it will cost more, but in the long run, our students will have a better infrastructure.”

The Minister also highlighted increased investment in Jamaica’s technical high schools, particularly in technical and vocational education, robotics and emerging technologies. She explained that these investments are intended to strengthen pathways for students and better position them for careers in a rapidly changing global economy.

Dr. Morris Dixon also revealed that the Government has developed its first special needs policy as part of efforts to strengthen inclusivity within the education system. She noted that a significant component of the policy focuses on public education and is being finalized for presentation to Cabinet.

“We are at the earlier stages of working through what it looks like,” the Minister stated, adding, “in the UK, there are some great programmes and I’m coming very soon to meet with the ministers there to talk through some of the initiatives in the UK [to] see how we may be able to translate them here in Jamaica.”

She identified speech therapy, occupational therapy and diagnostic services as areas where members of the Jamaican diaspora could provide valuable support.

Underscoring that “Technology, connectivity and reliable power are essential components of resilience,” Mr. Andrew Lee outlined e-Learning Jamaica’s investments to ensure continuity of learning during periods of disruption.

Mr. Lee noted that more than 700 teachers had their computers replaced following hurricane-related losses and that over 700 schools have received broadband connectivity. He added that satellite internet solutions are being deployed to strengthen connectivity in disaster-prone areas.

He further revealed that e-Learning Jamaica, in partnership with the Universal Service Fund (USF), is expanding solar power installations in schools to support operations during power outages.

Dr. Anthony Munroe emphasized the need for institutions to move beyond traditional academic relationships and “co-create opportunities” through meaningful international partnerships.

He noted that when educational institutions seek international support, the approach must be made “with the intentionality of building partnerships and relationships that allow for pathways for faculty exchange, student exchange, mutual research, learning and earning opportunities that go beyond the classroom.”

Dr. Munroe stressed that such partnerships must be strategically designed to connect learning with community impact and practical experience.

Turning attention to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, Ms. Kay Green highlighted the importance of sustained teacher development, strong leadership and partnerships that connect students to meaningful career opportunities.

“It starts with the implementation of disciplinary literacy for all our teachers, ensuring that training doesn’t just last for the day, but there’s an implementation plan that takes them for at least six, nine or eighteen months in order to implement the training that we’re delivering for them,” she said.

Ms. Green also underscored the importance of expanding access to STEM education while challenging limited perceptions of STEM careers.

“We need to have a lot more partnerships with organizations and show them all the different roles within STEM. because you can be a project manager within STEM,” she stated.

Closing the discussion, Dr. Kevin Brown reiterated the importance of collective action among government, educational institutions, private-sector partners and the Jamaican diaspora in building a resilient and future-focused education sector.

The 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference is an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, which convenes members of the Jamaican diaspora, government, the private sector, academia, and civil society to advance a shared national priority of building a more resilient Jamaica. The 2026 staging highlighted the need for stronger systems, infrastructure and partnerships to support national recovery and long-term development following the impact of Hurricane Melissa and other geological hazards.