Jamaica

In an effort to attract more international students, the University of the West Indies (UWI) has signed agreements with several institutions of higher education in Colombia. The agreements seek to facilitate student and teacher exchanges, joint research, the transfer of credits and the reciprocal accreditation of degrees.

In recent years, colleges and schools from other countries have been aggressively marketing themselves and recruiting students in Jamaica. But while more and more Jamaican students are going abroad to study, increasing numbers of international students are also coming to the island for higher education, according to Errol Miller, a professor of education.

The government and many of the country’s institutions of higher education are attempting to emphasize Jamaica’s image as a leading center of Caribbean Studies and a provider of English language training. The international interest in reggae music and the affordability of Jamaican institutions compared with their North American counterparts are also being played up in the marketing campaign.

Although Jamaica has never focused on Latin America as a potential market for international students, the agreements with Colombian universities could pave the way for cooperation with other countries in the region. To facilitate these exchanges, the Ministry of Education recently launched an initiative to teach Spanish in certain primary schools.

For some time now the University of Technology (formerly CAST) has offered its programs to non-Jamaicans. Likewise, the Seventh Day Adventist-operated Northern Caribbean University has also been admitting international students for many years.

— Jamaica Gleaner
Feb 23, 2000