UCJ to Host Special Online Symposium March 11

As part of its 20th Annual Quality Assurance in Higher Education (QA) Week, being observed from March 9 to 15, the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) will host a special online symposium on Tuesday, March 11 at 9:00 a.m.

The event will be held under the theme ‘Upskilling for the Future: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy as a Quality Standard for Higher Education’. Acting Director of Accreditation at the UCJ, Dr. Lisa Henlin, said the symposium is a crucial dialogue that underscores the UCJ’s commitment to elevating educational standards in the digital age.

“AI literacy is no longer a luxury but a necessary skill for students and educators to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world,” she emphasised, in an interview with JIS News.

The event will feature expert speakers, including Director Principal, Southwest Technical Vocational Education and Training (STVET) Institute, Region 5, HEART/NSTA Trust, Dr. Steve Lawrence; Senior Lecturer, School of Computing and Information Technology (IT), University of Technology, Jamaica, Dr. Nadine Barrett-Maitland; and Professor of Computer Science, Department of Computing, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Professor Daniel N. Coore.

In addition, diverse perspectives will be shared in a dynamic panel discussion featuring Senior Director, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI), Tyrone Anderson; United Nations Youth Advisor and Sixth Form Student, Immaculate Conception High School, Meron McPherson; and University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) School of Mathematics, Science and Technology student, Khalia Phillips.

“We believe that an understanding of AI is not just an advantage; it’s a necessity for today’s students and educators. This symposium provides a great platform to discuss how we can collectively enhance AI literacy to prepare our institutions for the future,” Dr. Henlin said.

The UCJ is encouraging all interested stakeholders, educators, students, and media representatives to join this important conversation about the future of education and the role of AI in ensuring quality in higher-education institutions.

For further information on the Symposium, persons can contact the UCJ at 876-929-7299.

The UCJ is a statutory body established to promote and ensure quality in higher-education institutions in Jamaica.

It offers accreditation services, oversight of higher educational standards, and support for educational institutions in their pursuit of quality education.