UTech, Jamaica 2016-17 Annual Report

University of Technology, Jamaica ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 Page 67 Excellence Through Knowledge from 9 January 9 - 31 March 2017. Seminars focussing on STEM/5E lesson planning for both students and lecturers/supervisors were held in FELS and FOSS in December 2016. The National Standards Curriculum Development of a new National Standards Curriculum commenced in 2013. The goal of the new curriculum is to improve the general academic performance, attitude and behaviour of students. Under the new system, emphasis will be placed on project-based and problem-solving learning, with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics/ Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEM/ STEAM) integrated at all levels. Six lecturers participated in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI) workshop for Secondary Level Trainer of Trainers for the National Standards Curriculum from 20-24 June 2016. PARTNERSHIPS/ COLLABORATIONS/ CONSULTANCIES Ministry of Education Youth & Information (MOEYI) Scholarship Programme In its bid to increase the number of fully qualified Math and Science and TVET teachers by 2021, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI) began offering scholarships to qualified students in 2016. The Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies collaborated with the Ministry to recruit students for its technical and vocational education training (TVET) programmes in SOTAVE. The scholarship programme was promoted through advertising, telephone calls to prospective students, schools and Facebook. The efforts yielded applications from 55 students across all programmes. The scholarship provides students with full tuition costs, a book/material grant and accommodation where needed. An orientation session was held with the group on 22 September 2016. Academic faculty in SOTAVE participated in a review of the curriculum to develop a three-year programme. They also met with MOEYI and Sam Sharpe Technical College (SSTC) counterparts to work through the collaboration to offer the technical and vocational education aspect of this initiative, which will see the training of 300 TVET teachers in the next five years. Belize TVET Project SOTAVE collaborated with AECOM International Development Europe SL and EURECNA, a consulting firm promoting economic and social development cooperation and private sector development to submit an Expression of Interest for TVET Capacity Building and Professional Development Training Programme in Belize. Heart Trust/ NTA SOTAVE met with senior directors of HEART Trust/NTA on 24 June 2016 to discuss possibilities for partnership in training. The present MOU is to be refashioned with respect to sharing facilities and matriculation support. A follow-up and broader-based meeting was held on July 26, 2016. A team of lecturers from UTech, Ja met with NCTVET/VTDI on 27 June 2016 to establish a focus group which will examine the standards for fashion and image styling. This activity forms part of the new offerings in the HEART/UTech, Ja/ SOTAVE link. So far, twenty standards have been edited and submitted and another ten are being completed.