Biotechnology Summer Internship Programme
Chemistry Festival The Department of Chemistry hosted another in the series of the American Chemical Society’s Chemistry Festival (ACS CHEMFEST) activities in December 2021. The events, geared towards primary level students from rural areas of Jamaica, were held at Turnberry Infant & Primary School (face-to- face event), Windsor Castle All Age School (face- to-face event), and Buff Bay Primary School (virtual event). The activities, sponsored by the ACS, were hosted over a three-day period, under the theme, “Chemistry in the World Around Us”. Students were exposed to fun science experiments using everyday household items. Professor Melvin Pascall from Ohio State University, was the guest speaker (virtually).
workshop exposed future leaders in TVET/WFD to the digital transformation taking place in industry around the globe. CAPE Science Teacher Workshops The Faculty of Science and Technology collaborated with the School of Education and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, to host a series of Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Science Teacher workshops. The Teacher workshops were held from January 4 to 7, 2022, in parallel with CAPE student workshops. The workshops consisted of pedagogical approaches to effective science teaching in subject-specific content. Teachers from the Shortwood Teachers’ College also participated in an online biotechnology course offered by the Biotechnology Centre. CAPE Student Workshops The Faculty of Science and Technology’s annual CAPE workshops in chemistry, biology, physics, math, geography, and computer science, were staged online in January 2022. The workshops facilitated over 1.500 high school students across Jamaica. The Institute for Caribbean Studies also partnered with Expert Educational and Professional Consultants (EEPC), to host a week of Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) and CAPE marathons between April 25th and May 1st 2022, via the ZOOM platform.
the School of Graduate, Adult and Extended Studies; and Gwendolyn Scott-Jones, Dean of DSU’s Wesley College of Health & Behavioural Sciences. The contingency benefitted from a series of presentations from the Deans of the Faculties followed by meetings with the Senior Management Team, and a tour of the Mona Campus. NCEL Aspiring Principals’ Programme – Online Graduation for Cohort 7 In her capacity as Director of the School of Education, Dr. Marcia Rainford was invited to give remarks at the graduation ceremony for the 7th cohort of students enrolled in the Aspiring Principals’ Programme (APP) held virtually on Thursday, March 31, 2022. The APP is managed by the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL) in collaboration with the School of Education, Mona. Training Library Information Studies Professionals The extraordinary outreach by the Department of Library and Information Studies (DLIS) to audiences across the region merits special mention. Even more so than other departments, the DLIS has a regional mandate as it is the only trainer of LIS professionals for the region. The DLIS conducted successful outreach to over 800 persons working in the field in 13 of the Contributing Countries, plus Guyana. A series of online sessions informed these participants of the professional development opportunities offered through the Department’s degree programmes, and invited feedback regarding their training needs. The Better Process Control School 2022 In January, the Department of Chemistry facilitated another staging of the US FDA-approved Better Process Control School (BPCS) certification course for processors of low-acid canned food, and acidified food. Thirty-seven participants from fourteen Jamaican and Trinidadian companies who were in attendance (face-to-face or virtually), successfully finished the course and were awarded Certificates of Satisfactory Completion, which is a mandatory requirement by local and US regulatory authorities.
The Biotechnology Centre also hosted the High School Students’ Summer Internship Programme in Biotechnology. Over the internship period, the interns learned how to use the Centre’s laboratory instruments, prepare reagents for protein analysis, and conduct DNA extraction and analysis through agarose gel electrophoresis. This was done under the guidance of the Biotechnology team including Research Group Leaders, the Research Assistant, postgraduate students, and the Scientific Officer. The School of Education Virtual Study Abroad – University of Saskatchewan (USASK) The School of Education in collaboration with the International Students Office, facilitated a virtual Study Abroad experience for students and staff from the College of Education, University of Saskatchewan, on August 16 and 17, 2021. The sessions were to support research being done by the College of Education, University of Saskatchewan on colonial/post-colonial educational developments in Ireland, Jamaica, and Aotearoa-New Zealand. The students from the University of Saskatchewan were 75% K-12 teachers aspiring to become administrators, and 25% post-secondary teachers. Perspectives on aspects of the Jamaican Education System – Early Childhood Education, School Administration and Secondary Education – were presented by Drs. Canute Thompson, Tashane Haynes-Brown, Zoyah Kinkead-Clark, and graduate students who were also practitioners and leaders in the Jamaican education system. The following graduate students participated in the sessions: Ms. Carlene Creary, Mr. Omar Neil, Ms. Stephanie Lloyd, Ms. Paula Rennalls, Ms. Tameka Edwards, Mr. Alex Hepburn, Mr. Adli Lewis, Ms. Tamika Henry, Ms. Millicent Douglas, Ms. Kerry-Ann Porter-Palmer, and Ms. Tiffany Small. World Resources Webinar Dr. Debra Ferdinand-James, School of Education, partnered with World Resources Webinar, India, to host a free simulation workshop for graduate students in the MA Leadership in Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and Workforce Development (MA LTVET/WFD) Programme. This
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UWI Mona Annual Report 2021 - 2022
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