MONTEGO BAY, St James — Following the successful staging of its inaugural science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Summer Camp at the Western Campus last year, University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica will expand this initiative to its Papine campus this year.

The university hosted approximately 100 secondary school students last year and its president, Dr Kevin Brown, at the summer camp press launch in Montego Bay, St James, on Wednesday said this prompted the expansion.

“All the youngsters — the grades seven to 10 youngsters who came from these high schools — had an amazing experience, and we want to do it all again. But we wanted to spread that opportunity to our Papine campus,” said Brown.

He noted that the summer programme will be offered to students at the Western Campus from July 7 to 18, and in Papine from July 14 to 25.

Brown used the launch to call for more high school students to pursue and excel in mathematics, science, and engineering as he stressed that the university’s future depends on a strong pipeline of STEM-ready students.

According to Brown, without this foundation at the secondary level UTech, Jamaica cannot thrive.

“We need them to do well in high school first, and so to the sponsors, you might be asking, ‘What’s the STEM summer camp really about? Okay, I’m putting some money into it, but what is it really about?’

“It’s about sustaining an educational ecosystem to ensure that, from the high school level, we have students who are excited about STEM, exposed to STEM, and will pursue it at the CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) level, get the appropriate grades, and matriculate into a highly STEM-focused university like UTech. That’s what’s happening here, a pipeline. So it’s pretty important work. We want to grow the programme, and let’s see where we get to next year,” said Brown.

In the meantime, UTech Western Campus Coordinator Antoinette Smith, who conceptualised initiative, said the two-week summer camp is designed to engage vulnerable, underserved, and talented secondary-level students in an interactive and enjoyable learning experience, helping to break down fears and barriers often associated with subjects like mathematics and science.

She added that the programme offers a rich educational environment that promotes both individual and collaborative learning; supports psychosocial development; and equips students with skills for future studies, work, and entrepreneurship.

Smith pointed out that the focus areas of the summer camp include robotics, science, mathematics, entrepreneurship, health and wellness; and this year, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital technology, with strong support from Avasant — an international management consulting firm specialising in sourcing advisory, digital and information technology transformation.

The UTech Western Campus coordinator also expressed gratitude to the sponsors.

“A special note to our platinum sponsors, with a minimum contribution of $1.5 million, all of whom have a vested interest in STEM and youth development. We are indeed honoured to have them on board — Excelerate Energy, National Baking Company Foundation, as well as the Ministry of National Security, through its Liv Gud anti-violence campaign. The Scientific Research Council is also a key partner, and Dr [Charah] Watson’s team does an excellent job engaging with the students,” Smith said.

In his remarks, Minister of National Security and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang, who urged more students to pursue STEM subjects, expressed a wish for UTech to produce 2,000 engineers annually to bolster Jamaica’s economic growth.

“That’s how small countries like Singapore — which had a little population base like Jamaica — in its education system, trained three million people and trained 10,000 engineers,” Chang said.

“Today Singapore’s per capita income is US$80,000 per year. We are still at US$7,000 and we have improved by nearly 50 per cent in the last eight years. The reality is, we have to look ahead, think big, think positively. And our people have a creative talent. I am confident we have the talent, the ability to apply ourselves in science and really grow this country much faster,” added Chang.

Meanwhile, Lauri-Ann Samuels, executive director of the National Baking Company Foundation, expressed her company’s continued commitment to supporting the UTech summer camp.

“At National Baking Company Foundation our commitment has always been to nation-building, and that starts with you — the youth. We want to foster cycles of possibility to give you the space and the support to discover just how capable you are,” Samuels said.

In her statement, Verona Carter, vice-president and general manager – Caribbean, Excelerate Energy, underscored the company’s pride in supporting the initiative.

“At Excelerate Energy we are proud to continue the legacy of support we began last year as a lead sponsor of UTech’s STEM Summer Camp at its western campus. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to expanding access to education and opportunity for young Jamaicans who will be our next generation of leaders and innovators,” Carter said in the statement.

Students at the UTech STEM Summer Camp launch in Montego Bay, St James, and stakeholders share a photo moment at the UTech Western Campus on Wednesday.