The Management Institute for National Development (MIND), in collaboration with the Office of the Cabinet, successfully hosted the inaugural Public Sector Learning Framework (PSLF) Summit on July 31 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

The summit brought together senior human resource leaders from ministries, departments, and agencies to advance the implementation of the Government of Jamaica’s public sector learning and development (PSL&D) policy. This initiative is a central plank in the country’s Vision 2030 public sector modernisation agenda, aimed at building a high-performing, future-ready public service.

Cabinet Secretary Audrey Sewell, in delivering the opening remarks, urged human resource (HR) leaders to embrace their evolving role as strategic partners in transformation.

She emphasised that compliance alone is not enough and called for demonstrable impact through the consistent application of the HR Competency Framework to lift performance, prepare teams for emerging challenges, and improve service delivery. She also challenged HR leaders to adopt modern approaches, such as the 70:20:10 learning model, to embed continuous development in organisational culture. 

“Compliance is not the destination – impact is. We must use the competency framework to lift performance, prepare teams for emerging challenges, and create real change. This summit must be a turning point, helping us bridge the gap between policy and practice, intention and impact, service and excellence,” the cabinet secretary said.

In her address, Dr Ruby Brown, chief executive officer at MIND, underscored the importance of the PSLF Summit as part of a broader, coordinated effort to strengthen HR capabilities, develop professional and learning pathways, and embed a culture of continuous development in the public service. She reaffirmed MIND’s role as the lead implementation agency for the PSL&D Policy, providing standards, technical guidance, and quality assurance for public sector training.

The summit agenda focused on deepening understanding of the PSL&D Policy, exploring the HRM&D Framework, and examining technical competencies and HR Professional Pathways. Discussions highlighted the need for values-based leadership, alignment of learning with workforce planning and succession management, and the modernization of HR practices to meet evolving demands, including the impact of artificial intelligence and automation.

In parallel with the summit, MIND conducted key informant interviews with the permanent Secretaries board, some heads of entities, Strategic Human Resource Management Division, Public Sector Modernisation Division and the Jamaica Civil Service Association to gather insights on the HR Competency Framework, identify emerging trends, and explore opportunities to better align HR practices with strategic public sector objectives.

The PSLF Summit marks a milestone in the Government’s continued investment in human capability development, aligning learning and HR practices with Jamaica’s transformation goals and its long-term vision for national development.