President of The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Guild Roshaun Wynter says students are very happy that a long-advocated work-study programme is set to become a reality, describing the LEAP (learn, earn and prosper) initiative as proof that collaboration between student leaders and Government can deliver meaningful change.

The programme, announced by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness during his contribution to the 2026/27 Budget Debate last Thursday, is set to be piloted in the upcoming financial year through the HEART/NSTA Trust. It is designed to provide tertiary students with paid, part-time work experience in both the public and private sectors while they continue their studies.

Wynter, who helped shape the initiative, said the reaction among students has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly as it reflects a shift in how policy is developed.

“A lot of the students they are so happy because it shows that partnerships can be made between Government and student leadership for our own good. Sometimes you’ve had adversarial sort of relationships, and so this year they are very happy that partnerships are proving to be more effective,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday.

The UWI Guild president explained that the idea for the programme came directly from consultations with students, many of whom raised concerns about financing their education and accessing meaningful work experience while enrolled full-time in school.

“I was doing some consultations, and from those I built a manifesto, [and] what shocked me for the most part was that students wanted greater security, they wanted greater support for financing their education, and they wanted more opportunities for professional training and employment,” Wynter said.

He noted that the traditional structure of internships often excludes students who cannot commit to full-time work while studying, prompting the push for a more flexible, tailored model.

“So we asked for a specialised one that would be part-time. We did the concept, we met with some ministry officials who are very close to the minister of education and then it was brought to her attention, she reviewed it and they gave us feedback, and we met last week and we finalised it. So that’s really the body of work that we put into it,” he said.

Wynter also pointed out that the programme addresses a long-standing challenge within the tertiary system, in which many students are forced to juggle full-time work and full-time study to meet financial demands.

“The university has a problem when it comes on to students who are working while studying, and some of them are full-time students who are doing full-time work. So it’s clear that there is a need for employment that supplements whatever avenues of financing they have. So this is important, because it allows students to continue full-time [study], not even part-time, continue full-time [study] while they are working part-time and the rate will be a competitive internship rate, even though you are doing 15 to 20 hours per week,” Wynter explained.

Beyond easing financial pressure, the initiative is also expected to tackle concerns from employers about graduates lacking practical experience and workplace readiness.

He explained that the programme will incorporate HEART’s job-readiness curriculum, equipping students with practical skills while they gain real-world experience in professional environments.

The prime minister, in announcing the initiative, credited Wynter and the University of Technology, Jamaica Students’ Union President Percival Roberts for their leadership in bringing the idea to fruition, describing them as central to the programme’s development.

“This is how my Administration makes policy. We first listen to those who we serve, then we act collaboratively. I thank these student leaders for putting pen to paper, bringing their ideas forward, leading every step of the way and working with us to develop this programme,” said Holness.

The LEAP Programme forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the transition from tertiary education into the workforce — an area that has long been identified as a gap within Jamaica’s education and labour systems.

According to Wynter, the programme is expected to be piloted this summer before being expanded, with stakeholders aiming for full implementation by the start of the new academic year.