The University of Technology Jamaica (UTech) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday, April 22, with Jamaican-led US Edtech company 21st Century Education (21stCentEd) ahead of the Future Ready International Conference at the UTech Campus in Kingston.

Under the terms of the MoU, the UTech and 21stCentEd will thrive “to establish and support the designation and realisation of Jamaica as the home of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Century International Conference, positioning Jamaica as regional leader of STEM.”

In keeping with the agreement, UTech also commits to collaborating to build a mentoring network for students participating in the STEM Innovators: Igniting Collaboration Across Borders initiative.

The four-day conference to be held from April 23-26 is dedicated to thought leader empowerment for educators to be prepared for a world defined by artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and robotics. It will feature presentations from local and international experts to guide local educators on pioneering ways to establish and optimise a STEM-nurturing environment.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony on April 24.

UTech President Dr Kevin Brown said: “The outcomes from the conference will be far-reaching. The MoU represents a long-term partnership with 21st Century Ed and other stakeholders where we work together to ensure that Jamaica is STEM ready.”

Brown added that under the partnership, UTech will be playing its part in helping to ensure Jamaica is prepared for the rapid technological change that is occurring and that local educators are prepared, schools are equipped and students that can succeed and function in the 21^st century are being produced.

21stCentury Ed Founder and CEO Marlon Lindsay said: “The partnership with 21stCentury Ed and the UTech is crucial to Jamaica’s development and more people from the diaspora will need to come forward and lend their time, talent and treasures to ensure that Jamaica is transformed into a vibrant STEM centric economy.”