KINGSTON, Jamaica — The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Organization of American States (OAS) officially recognized their Partnership Programme on Citizenship Education on Monday, at the UWI Mona Campus.

This relationship between the two is geared towards advancing the quality and diversity of higher level educational programmes on the Mona campus, while spreading core ideals of the OAS through the Peace Leaders Programme.

The OAS is to support the UWI’s Governance Society – a youth programme in the Department of Government which promotes the principles of good governance in high schools across Jamaica – by providing access to the online material of the Inter American Program on Education for Democratic Values and Practices (EDUCADEM).

The OAS will also provide technical assistance, through capacity strengthening workshops in citizenship education, including EDUCADEM and the OAS Peace Leaders Program, as well as partnering with UWI to replicate its Governance Society model throughout the Americas.

Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, expressed pleasure at the partnership, noting that the training will contribute to the current efforts of UWI’s Governance Society to develop an innovative and student centered curriculum.

“This will also empower young leaders and thinkers to fully engage in public and social discourses while creating opportunities for others,” Almagro said.

The OAS will support the UWI Governance Society by providing: access to online material of the Inter American Program on Education for Democratic Values and Practices (EDUCADEM); technical assistance through capacity strengthening workshops in citizenship education, including EDUCADEM and the OAS Peace Leaders Program; and partnering with UWI to replicate the Governance Society model throughout the Americas.

In return, the UWI will assist the OAS in adapting the Peace Leaders Program to the Caribbean reality, and incorporating the OAS’ key concepts on democracy and good governance into the Peace Leaders Program and in the Governance Society curriculum and manual.

Professor Archibald McDonald, Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor of UWI noted that the commitment will allow students to better understand the ever changing geopolitical climate of the international community, especially with borders becoming more fluid.

“The knowledge and expertise shared will equip students with unique learning opportunities from an international perspective,” Professor McDonald said.

Balford Henry