Carib Scope

分类： education

  • Charr’d Restaurant Mentors Antigua Grammar School Student in Junior Chef Academy

    Charr’d Restaurant Mentors Antigua Grammar School Student in Junior Chef Academy

    A groundbreaking partnership between a local dining destination and a Caribbean secondary school is opening new doors for aspiring young culinary professionals, as Charr’d Restaurant has stepped forward to mentor a student from Antigua Grammar School through the innovative Junior Chef Academy program.

    The initiative, designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world industry experience, gives promising young students the rare opportunity to learn hands-on skills from seasoned restaurant professionals. Unlike traditional in-school training, the mentorship program places the student directly in the dynamic, fast-paced environment of a working commercial kitchen, where they can observe daily operations, practice fundamental cooking techniques, and gain insight into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into running a successful food service business.

    For Charr’d Restaurant, the collaboration represents more than just a community outreach project: it is an investment in the future of Antigua and Barbuda’s hospitality and culinary sector. By nurturing local talent early in their educational journey, the restaurant aims to build a pipeline of skilled young workers who can go on to strengthen the island nation’s tourism and food industries long-term. Restaurant leadership has emphasized that they are eager to share their expertise, from menu planning and food safety standards to customer service, to help the next generation of chefs develop the confidence and skills they need to succeed.

    The Antigua Grammar School student participating in the program brings a long-held passion for cooking to the opportunity, and has already begun working alongside Charr’d’s head chef and kitchen team to learn core culinary practices. Educators at the school have praised the partnership, noting that work-based mentorship programs like this complement academic learning by giving students practical, transferable skills that will serve them regardless of their future career paths. Many students interested in culinary arts often lack access to professional training opportunities in small island nations, making this collaboration a model for how local businesses can partner with educational institutions to fill that gap.

  • Leerkrachten pleiten voor bredere invoering van ‘Het Begint Bij Mij’-programma

    Leerkrachten pleiten voor bredere invoering van ‘Het Begint Bij Mij’-programma

    Against a backdrop of widely acknowledged gaps in educator development across Suriname’s education system, 32 teachers from four local schools have completed the first national iteration of *It Starts With ME*, an international personal leadership training program designed to transform how educators approach teaching and student support. The initiative, which focuses on building personal self-awareness, responsible parenting practices, and intentional self-reflection among education professionals and caregivers, has already drawn enthusiastic praise from participants who describe the course as a transformative eye-opener that should be expanded to reach all teachers in the country.

    Founded in 2003 by educator Adéle Grosse in South Africa, *It Starts With ME* was created to support not just teachers, but also parents and primary caregivers. Over its two decades of operation, the program has expanded to roll out across multiple African nations and the Netherlands, before being brought to Suriname by the Stichting Ad Fontys, with backing from the Stichting De Vrijeschool. This inaugural Suriname-based training session was hosted at the Lalarookhgebouw, led by local trainer Monique Lansheuvel.

    Lansheuvel explained that the core mission of the program goes far beyond conventional professional development: it pushes participants to examine their identity both as educators and as individual people. “The core of the work is building awareness around your role as a parent and your sense of self,” she said. “If you don’t understand where you’ve come from, you can’t chart a clear path for where you want to go. That’s why we explore participants’ own childhoods and personal histories. We don’t frame this as a process of judging right or wrong; instead, we ask what you want to do differently or better going forward.” By the end of the training, participants leave with greater self-confidence, a clearer understanding of their personal values and norms, and a stronger sense of what they want to pass on to the young people in their care, she added.

    For participant Cherrylane Pools, the most critical lesson the training taught was the importance of self-reflection before supporting others. “The biggest takeaway is that change starts with you,” Pools said. “If you aren’t feeling grounded and comfortable in your own skin, you can’t pass that stability on to the students you work with. The training helped me become far more aware of the impact I have on children and everyone around me. You have to be the example you want to see before you can expect others to change their behavior.”

    Organizing representative Tanja Meyer noted that the long-term goal of the pilot is to roll the training out nationwide across Suriname. “We need to build greater awareness that a teacher’s role extends far beyond just delivering lessons,” Meyer explained. “Suriname’s Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (Sasos) has already recognized that there are critical gaps and shortcomings in this area of educator development, which is why we launched the program here.”

    From this first cohort of participating teachers, organizers plan to train a new generation of local program trainers, with the ultimate goal of reaching as many educators and caregivers across the country as possible. Initiative leaders say they hope the program will drive lasting positive change across Suriname’s education and child-rearing sectors, centering core values of personal responsibility and intentional role modeling for the next generation.

  • UWI Extends Deadline for Online Postgraduate Programme Applications

    UWI Extends Deadline for Online Postgraduate Programme Applications

    Aspiring graduate students seeking flexible, career-focused advanced study have gained extra time to submit their applications, after the University of the West Indies (UWI) International School for Development Justice announced a major extension to its application window for fully online postgraduate programs, pushing the final deadline back to 31 July 2026.

    In an official statement released by the institution, school leaders explained that the decision to extend the deadline was crafted to remove barriers for qualified candidates across the globe. By extending the cutoff date, the school aims to open doors for a more diverse pool of prospective learners who may need additional time to prepare application materials, arrange financing, or align their enrollment plans with personal and professional commitments. Unlike in-person programs that require relocation or strict on-campus attendance, all of the school’s postgraduate offerings can be completed 100 percent remotely, meaning enrollees can advance their education from any location with an internet connection, fitting their studies around existing work, family, or community obligations.

    The suite of available programs covers a wide range of high-demand, impact-focused fields, catering to students interested in addressing some of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century. Prospective enrollees can choose from multiple credential levels to match their goals: Master’s of Science degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and postgraduate certificates are all available. Focus areas of study include Public Health and Informatics, Sustainability and Data Analytics, Climate and Development Studies, Sustainable Development and Justice, and Sustainable Leadership and Development. This diverse lineup reflects the school’s core mission of advancing development justice, combining technical skill-building with training in equitable, sustainable global development.

    As of the announcement, the institution’s online application portal remains active and accepting submissions, with no changes to the existing application review process. Candidates who submit successful applications will retain full access to the fully online study format, retaining all the flexibility and geographic freedom that remote learning offers to non-traditional and international students.

  • Films brengen basisscholieren in contact met Franse taal en cultuur

    Films brengen basisscholieren in contact met Franse taal en cultuur

    A new collaborative educational and cultural initiative is opening the door for primary school students across Suriname to explore French language and culture through the power of cinema. Launched jointly by the French Embassy in Suriname and Alliance Française Suriname, the weekly program *Cinéma Scolaire du mercredi* (Wednesday School Cinema) will screen French-language films with Dutch subtitles for participating young learners.

    The kickoff event for the innovative program is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29 at the Alliance Française Suriname campus. Before the opening film screening, the Children’s Choir of the Cathedral Choir School, part of the Suriname Foundation School for Young Talent, will perform *Vois sur ton chemin*, the iconic song from the beloved French film *Les Choristes*.

    Following the launch, weekly screenings will be held every Wednesday through the end of the current school term before the major summer break. The program will resume in October after vacation concludes, allowing more and more students to participate throughout the full academic year.

    Organizers emphasize that the initiative is far more than a simple film screening series. Wherever possible, supplementary educational activities will be paired with screenings, including post-film discussions and cross-cultural exchange activities. The core goal of these complementary sessions is to boost student interest in French language and culture, giving young learners an accessible, engaging introduction to the broader French-speaking world.

    The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Suriname has pledged full support to the program, helping to facilitate participation from public primary schools across the country. The French Embassy covers all core funding for the initiative, while Alliance Française Suriname takes charge of on-the-ground organization of weekly screenings. Local transport company Le Grand Baldew provides additional logistical support to cover travel for students from participating schools.

    Participating schools are contacted directly by the program’s organizing team, and there are no participation fees for schools or students to join. For the collaborative team behind the initiative, the project represents more than an educational activity: it is an investment in cultural enrichment, language skill development, and stronger international cooperation, by introducing Surinamese children to French language and culture from an early age.

  • St. Mary’s Student Begins Culinary Internship Through Junior Chef Academy

    St. Mary’s Student Begins Culinary Internship Through Junior Chef Academy

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – A promising young culinary talent from St. Mary’s Secondary School has taken his first major step toward a professional hospitality career, launching a six-week hands-on internship at the luxury Hermitage Bay resort as an early milestone in the 2026 Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy.

    Aleka Lewis Jr. began his on-the-job training July 13, working directly under the guidance of Hermitage Bay’s Executive Chef Desroy Spence through the end of the internship period on August 21. Unlike traditional classroom-based learning, this placement immerses Lewis in the fast-paced daily operations of a high-end professional kitchen, giving him the chance to build technical skills and industry insight that cannot be learned from textbooks alone.

    The internship is not an isolated opportunity, but a core foundational component of the broader Junior Chef Academy initiative, which is structured to groom emerging young culinary talent across Antigua and Barbuda for long-term careers in hospitality. Following the conclusion of all participant internships, the academy will move to its final competitive phase: a high-stakes cook-off competition scheduled to run from August 25 to 28. The entire 2026 programme will wrap with a formal closing ceremony on September 3, where participants will be recognized for their hard work and growth over the course of the initiative.

    At the end of the cook-off, one standout competitor will earn the title of the academy’s Top Junior Chef. Along with this prestigious recognition, the winner will secure a once-in-a-lifetime international opportunity: the chance to represent Antigua and Barbuda at the 2027 Junior Lit’l Chef Camp in Turks and Caicos. This international opportunity is made possible through a cross-regional partnership between the organizing bodies of the Taste of Wadadli programme and the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association.

    The 2026 Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy is a collaborative effort, hosted by three key partners: the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association, the Ted Isaac Family, and Global Ports Holding, which operates Antigua Cruise Port. From its inception, the initiative has centered on a clear core mission: to identify and nurture homegrown young culinary talent, and to encourage more young people in the country to pursue sustainable, rewarding careers in the thriving local hospitality and tourism sector.

  • Here’s Why UB’s School of Medicine is “Seeking its Own Accreditation”

    Here’s Why UB’s School of Medicine is “Seeking its Own Accreditation”

    In a dual accreditation strategy that marks a key milestone for Belize’s only public higher education institution, the University of Belize’s School of Medicine is moving forward with a standalone accreditation process, separate from the university’s ongoing campus-wide institutional accreditation review.

    University President Dr. Vincent Palacio confirmed the split approach in comments made to stakeholders this Thursday, noting that the medical program has formally initiated accreditation through the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), the leading regional regulatory body tasked with evaluating and certifying medical and health professions education programs across the Caribbean.

    “We couldn’t move forward with this application any earlier than we have now,” Palacio explained. “CAAM-HP requires programs to demonstrate a full cycle of student enrollment, progression, and graduation before a submission can be reviewed. We are currently right on schedule with our planned timeline, and securing this specialized accreditation is an absolutely critical step for the future of our medical program.”

    Internal planning documents posted to the School of Medicine’s official public website show that preparatory work for the accreditation process first launched back in August 2023, with teams of faculty and administrators working to align the program’s curriculum, clinical training requirements, and faculty standards with CAAM-HP’s rigorous benchmarks. The most recent update on the public timeline confirms that all required documentation for Provisional Accreditation was submitted to the regional authority in September 2025, putting the review process on track for a site visit and final decision in the coming months.

    While the medical school pursues its specialized accreditation, the broader University of Belize is simultaneously advancing its own separate institutional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), one of the most widely recognized regional higher education accrediting bodies in the Americas. Palacio shared that the university’s leadership team spent four years completing the extensive preparatory work required for the SACSCOC application, which was officially submitted to the body earlier this month.

    The dual process is structured to meet two distinct sets of quality standards: the SACSCOC review evaluates the overall institutional governance, academic support systems, financial stability, and general education standards across all of the university’s programs, while the CAAM-HP accreditation enforces strict, specialized requirements unique to undergraduate and graduate medical education, ensuring that graduates meet international standards for clinical practice and residency placement. For the University of Belize’s medical program, successful accreditation will open up new opportunities for graduates to pursue residency and licensing opportunities across North America and the Caribbean, boosting the program’s international reputation and graduate employability.

  • UWI Press Celebrates Global Award Win for Book Honouring Bridget Brereton

    UWI Press Celebrates Global Award Win for Book Honouring Bridget Brereton

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — July 24, 2026 — The University of the West Indies (UWI) Press has announced that one of its flagship 2025 publications has earned international acclaim, taking home silver honors in the 28th annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

    Titled *History Matters: Reassembling the Fragments of a Contested Past – In Honour of Bridget Brereton*, the edited volume claimed the Silver Winner distinction in the Adult Nonfiction History category. The collection, assembled by three UWI-based academics — Dr. Heather Cateau, Dr. Rita Pemberton, and Dr. Ronald Noel — centers on celebrating the transformative career of Bridget Brereton, one of the Caribbean’s most influential modern historians whose work has reshaped global understandings of the region’s past.

    Across the volume’s collected essays, contributors unpack under-explored dimensions of Caribbean history, spanning economic structures, social dynamics, political evolution, and cultural identity formation. The volume’s analytical framing mirrors Brereton’s own scholarly approach, which prioritizes nuance, contextual depth, and a commitment to unpacking the complexities of contested historical narratives rather than oversimplifying the region’s past.

    The Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards stand as one of the most prestigious recognitions for independent and university press publishing in North America and beyond. Each year, the awards program highlights exceptional works released over the prior calendar year from small independent publishing houses and academic presses, a segment of the industry that often produces niche and high-impact scholarship that receives less mainstream attention. Winners for the 2025 publishing cycle were announced earlier in July 2026 by Foreword Reviews, the leading trade journal focused exclusively on coverage of independent publishing.

    In a statement following the award announcement, Christine Randle, Managing Director of UWI Press, emphasized the unique meaning of the international recognition. “This honor carries special significance, as *History Matters* pays tribute to the remarkable life and legacy of Bridget Brereton, one of the Caribbean’s most distinguished historians. We are delighted that the book has received international recognition from Foreword Reviews and extend heartfelt congratulations to the editors and contributors. This achievement highlights the global importance of Caribbean scholarship and reinforces the value of safeguarding and exploring our collective past.”

    Michelle Schingler, Editor-in-Chief of Foreword Reviews, noted that competition for the 2026 awards was stiffer than ever before. “Each year, as our number of entrants increases and diversifies, the task of narrowing each genre category to a select few finalists gets harder. But that also makes the judges’ ultimate selections all the more exciting. We so look forward to their final choices, and we are proud to celebrate this year’s exemplary slate of winners,” Schingeton said.

    Founded in 1992, UWI Press operates as a not-for-profit scholarly publisher focused on advancing research across 14 academic fields, with particular global recognition for its deep catalog of work focused on Caribbean history, cultural studies, literature, gender studies, education, and political science. All UWI Press publications undergo rigorous peer review and approval from an editorial committee made up of leading local and international scholars. To date, the press has more than 350 titles in print, with over 100 available through major e-book platforms including Kindle and Kobo, and it launched a dedicated mobile reading app for both iOS and Android devices in 2023. Over the past two decades, UWI Press titles have earned more than 80 international, regional, and national awards for excellence in scholarship, editing, and production.

    The award comes as UWI, the parent institution of UWI Press, continues to cement its status as the Caribbean’s leading English-speaking research university. Established in 1948 as a small medical college affiliated with the University of London in Jamaica, UWI has grown dramatically over 75 years to serve nearly 50,000 students across five physical campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and the online Global Campus, plus it maintains partnership research centers with leading higher education institutions across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

    Today, the university offers more than 1,000 academic programs ranging from professional certificates to doctoral degrees across nine broad academic divisions, and it holds a consistent place in the Times Higher Education (THE) global rankings, having been included annually since 2018. It is the only English-speaking Caribbean university to be featured in four of THE’s most prestigious ranking lists: the overall World University Rankings, which evaluates more than 2,000 research-focused institutions globally; the Golden Age University Rankings for universities founded between 50 and 80 years ago; the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Rankings; and the Impact Rankings, which assess institutional contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This international recognition has supported the launch of UWI’s new International School for Development Justice, a global online graduate school focused on training future leaders for equitable and sustainable development across the Global South. As an SDG-engaged institution, UWI consistently ranks among the top universities globally for its advancement of the UN’s sustainable development agenda. More information about the university and its programs is available at www.uwi.edu.

  • Antiguan Schools Invited to Enter CARICOM Agriculture Video Competition

    Antiguan Schools Invited to Enter CARICOM Agriculture Video Competition

    Secondary schools across Antigua and Barbuda have been invited to participate in a region-wide agricultural video competition that offers significant cash rewards for winning teams, launched by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

    The CARICOM Regional High School Youth in Agriculture Video Competition requires participating institutions to craft an original, engaging one-minute video created by students. Entries must center on student-led agricultural production projects, and clearly articulate the critical role that agriculture plays in sustaining local communities, national economies, and the broader Caribbean regional ecosystem. For emerging winners, the rewards are structured as $1,700 for the first-place team, $1,300 for second place, and $1,000 for the third-place finisher.

    According to a statement from the CARICOM Secretariat, the competition serves multiple core strategic goals. Beyond celebrating high-performing agricultural education programs already operating at secondary schools across the region, organizers aim to raise awareness of sustainable farming practices and open young people’s eyes to agriculture as a viable, rewarding professional path and entrepreneurial opportunity. Too often framed as a declining industry, the competition seeks to reframe agriculture as an innovative, essential sector that welcomes young new talent.

    This initiative is not a solo effort by CARICOM: it is a collaborative project developed alongside the CARICOM Youth Advisory Body, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. This cross-organizational partnership brings together expertise in youth engagement, global agricultural development, regional research, and agricultural cooperation to support the competition’s mission.

    Aspiring participating schools have ample time to prepare their submissions, with a final entry deadline set for September 4, 2026. Full official competition guidelines and all required entry information are currently available for review directly through the CARICOM Secretariat for interested institutions.

  • Two Antiguan Students Selected for Prestigious Caribbean STEM Programme

    Two Antiguan Students Selected for Prestigious Caribbean STEM Programme

    Two outstanding young students from Antigua and Barbuda have secured coveted positions in the 2026 Student Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE), opening the door for them to collaborate and learn alongside the Caribbean’s most promising emerging STEM talents. The nation’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology made the official announcement this Friday, confirming that Ajenai Charles and Kha-Lique Harris will depart this weekend for Barbados to complete the programme’s intensive residential learning segment. In an official statement released to the public, the ministry extended warm congratulations to the selected pair, praising them as extraordinary young representatives of Antigua and Barbuda who will carry their nation’s pride into an experience of advanced academic study and cross-regional collaborative problem-solving. “We wish them every success as they continue to represent Antigua and Barbuda with pride,” the statement read. SPISE is widely recognized as one of the Caribbean’s most competitive youth STEM initiatives, structured as an immersive, intensive program that integrates rigorous university-level coursework, targeted leadership skill building, and hands-on practical training across all STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The program was developed specifically to equip high-achieving secondary students from across the Caribbean with the foundational skills and networks needed to build successful long-term careers in fast-growing STEM sectors. Both selected students currently pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) at Island Academy International, with distinct academic backgrounds prior to their enrollment: Charles is a graduate of Christ the King High School, while Harris completed his earlier secondary education at St. Joseph’s Academy. Beyond celebrating the individual achievements of Charles and Harris, the ministry emphasized that their selection to the competitive program is a tangible reflection of Antigua and Barbuda’s sustained, long-term investment in advancing academic excellence and nurturing the next generation of homegrown innovators in STEM fields.

  • Maritime Scholarships : Call for Applications

    Maritime Scholarships : Call for Applications

    A new educational opportunity has opened up for young Haitians interested in building careers in the maritime industry, after a partnership between Haiti’s National Institute for Vocational Training (INFP) and Martinique’s Maritime and Aquaculture Vocational Training School (EFPMA) created a fully funded scholarship program for eligible candidates.

    The program, which is set to begin coursework at EFPMA’s Martinique campus in October 2026, will train selected participants to earn a Maritime Vocational Aptitude Certificate (CAPM), a recognized professional credential that opens doors to entry-level and mid-level careers in the global maritime sector. INFP, which is coordinating the application process on behalf of the partnership, has officially opened the call for applications, targeting young Haitian residents between the ages of 18 and 30.

    To be considered for the scholarship, candidates must meet three core prerequisites: existing basic navigational skills, professional proficiency in French, and completion of a Baccalaureate II degree or its recognized educational equivalent. Applicants are required to submit a complete application package that includes a detailed curriculum vitae with all relevant supporting educational and professional documents, a personal letter of motivation explaining their career goals in the maritime sector, a valid national tax identification number, and the Haitian National Unique Identification Card (CINU). The only required document that can be submitted after the initial application deadline is the official medical certificate, which must be issued by a licensed physician approved by Haiti’s SEMANAH authority.

    There are two accepted channels for submitting applications: candidates can send their complete package to the official INFP email address infp.alecoute@infp.gouv.ht, or drop off physical copies in person at the INFP Human Resources office, located at 3 rue Saint Surin, Impasse Fremont, Pétion-Ville, along Route de Canapé-Vert in Haiti. All applicants submitting materials via email are required to include the phrase *Application for the EFPMA scholarship* in the subject line of their message to ensure their application is routed correctly for review.

    Following the closing of the application period, INFP and EFPMA program coordinators will review all submitted materials and select a shortlist of candidates for further screening and evaluation. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted via phone or mail to complete the next steps in the selection process. The firm deadline for all initial application submissions is August 15, 2026. More detailed information about EFPMA, its training programs, and the CAPM credential can be found on the school’s official website at https://www.efpma-martinique.com/.