MONTEGO BAY, St James — One hundred secondary students will get the opportunity to participate in the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) Western Campus’s inaugural Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Summer Camp.

Offered from July 8 to 26, it is seen as part of what UTech President Dr Kevin Brown said is the university’s mandate to produce Jamaica’s future workforce.

“For us to achieve that mandate we have to ensure that we are meeting the needs of Jamaica, the region and the world. What is happening, as everyone can see, is there is rapid technological change,” he said Tuesday during a press launch for the camp.

The venue was the university’s western campus in Montego Bay.

“Now we have the artificial intelligence, and we have intelligent machines and robotics — and we can’t just put them back in a box. These are technological developments that are actually threatening certain jobs so we now have to pivot as an institution in terms of the curriculum and the programmes that we offer,” Brown argued.

He added that part of that pivot means ensuring that the university has a pipeline of students who are qualified to enter the institution.

“The STEM summer camp is targeting high school students, in particular. Now why are we doing that? Because education is the ecosystem. We can’t just say we’re going to focus on tertiary education and leave everyone behind — you need to start at early childhood,” Brown said.

According to Brown, he wants to see students four years and younger introduced to STEM, creating a pipeline of knowledge that flows from the early childhood years into primary and high school, straight up to university level.

“We are trying to ensure that we encourage and support the drive towards STEM by having the summer camp, reaching out to these high schoolers, exposing them to the future, and of course encouraging them to consider pursuing their studies at UTech,” Brown explained.

“Beyond that, I believe UTech has a social responsibility to give back to western Jamaica. We have been here for a few years. We serve a community, and that includes several high schools. This is also an attempt to give back to the community, in partnership with our sponsors from the private sector, to allow these young people to access the summer camp and to learn and to be excited by technology,” he added.

Brown commended conceptualiser of the summer camp, Western Campus Coordinator Antoinette Smith and sponsors including two at platinum level: New Fortress Energy and National Baking Company Foundation, which donated $1.5 million each.

During the event, deputy prime minister and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang noted that STEM and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) schools are priorities for the Government. Proof of that, he said, are ongoing efforts to acquire land in Ironshore, St James, to establish a STEAM school.

President of Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Oral Heaven, who was the keynote speaker at Tuesday’s press launch, said the summer camp is a significant step toward the future.

“This camp will inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and leaders. We are investing in our youth, in our community, and in the future of Montego Bay and Jamaica,” Heaven said.

“Let us harness the power of STEM education to change our world for the better. Let us think, collaborate, and innovate to grow and be resilient. I commend UTech Jamaica for this visionary initiative and wish the STEM Summer Camp 2024 immense success. Together, we can build a brighter, more resilient future for Montego Bay, for Jamaica, and for the world,” he added.

Camp conceptualiser Smith, who noted that last academic year approximately 2,000 UTech students benefitted from scholarships valued at $330 million, said she wanted to include more pupils.

“We want to see more students in the mix,” she said.

Regional director of the Ministry of Education, Region Four, Dr Michele Pinnock welcomed the summer camp which will see juniors participating from July 8 to 19, and seniors from July 15 to 26.

Deputy prime minister and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang says there are ongoing efforts to acquire land in Ironshore, St James, for the establishment of a STEAM school. (Photos: Horace Hines)

Conceptualiser of the summer camp, UTech Western Campus Coordinator Antoinette Smith

UTech President Dr Kevin Brown wants to see students four years and younger introduced to STEM, creating a pipeline of knowledge that flows from the early childhood years into primary and high school, straight up to the university level.

President of Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Oral Heaven, who was the keynote speaker at Tuesday’s press launch, says the summer camp is “a significant step toward the future”.