COMMUNICATION and entertainment provider Flow Jamaica says it is making a significant contribution to increasing opportunities in Jamaica and the region for the next generation of engineers.

This was among the areas highlighted at a recent workshop hosted by the Jamaica Chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) at the University of Technology, Jamaica, titled: ‘Towards Expanding Access to Quality Engineering Science Excellence Opportunities in Jamaica’.

IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organisation locally.

Mazahurlt Davis, Flow’s director of network services, who was among the panellists, said the rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape in Jamaica relies on a solid foundation in engineering sciences.

He explained that Flow has fostered home–grown telecommunications engineering talent through direct hires, specialised training and its Graduate Internship Growth (GIG) Programme, which began in 2018.

According to Davis: “Our workforce of engineers in this field contributes to the design, implementation, management and optimisation of communication systems, playing a crucial role in connecting people and enabling the flow of information across the globe.”

More than 30 interns have benefited from Flow’s GIG programme which spans all areas of the business, with more than 50 per cent based in the technical areas.

Davis further encouraged young engineering professionals not to be deterred by the requirement for years of experience when applying for jobs. He said that soft skills – the ability of craftsmen to articulate their craft well and work under pressure – were among the key skill sets being sought by many companies.

Fellow panellist Andre Palmer, who represented Symptai Consulting, agreed, while imploring academic institutions to focus on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in their respective training curricula. Palmer further highlighted that leading companies across the region were faced with a shortage of engineers with AI skill sets.

The panel also acknowledged that a number of engineering graduates were leaving the country because of low salaries, a situation which Palmer suggested, required public sector discussion on how to bridge the gap and make salaries more compelling for young engineers.

Dr Nigel Clarke, minister of finance and the public service, speaking at the Institution of Engineers Conference last year, said government would be redoubling its efforts to produce no less than 3,000 STEM graduates in Jamaica each year to fill the existing gap.