The Jerk man and his Jerk pan are a quintessential feature of Jamaican culture — as recognisable a symbol of the island as reggae music or white sand beaches. Built on a long legacy of resilience and the cultural fusion that defines Jamaican cuisine, jerk has earned its place among
Delegates from six countries gathered in Runaway Bay as the HEART/NSTA Trust convened the WorldSkills Jamaica–Studica Robotics International Invitational Camp. This high-profile event serves as the official launchpad for Jamaica’s bid at the upcoming 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, this September.
On Monday, June 8, the world came to
As a diamond sponsor of the recently held Jamaica Employers Federation 2026 Convention, the HEART/NSTA Trust was not simply present at the conversation about the future of Jamaica’s workforce — we helped shape it.
Held under the theme “Rebuilding with Purpose: Turning Crisis to Opportunity,” the convention provided a
A cross-post of an article from Our.Today. See an excerpt below:
There is a conversation taking place across boardrooms, ministries, and multilateral agencies that is urgent, data-driven, and for small island developing states, existential.
The question at its centre: in a world reshaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and
The HEART/NSTA Trust continues to advance its mission of building a skilled, empowered Caribbean workforce by expanding access to high-quality, industry-relevant training for citizens across the region. At the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston on May 27, 2026, the Trust joined regional partners for the closing ceremony of the CARICOM
Artificial Intelligence, shifting attitudes toward work, and global disruptions are reshaping the modern workforce. To keep up, education and training organisations must change quickly. We at the HEART/NSTA Trust see our instructors as central to this shift, helping us to future proof the Jamaican workforce. To ensure our teams remain
Calling all HEART Alumni!
We want to hear how the HEART/NSTA Trust has helped you, our esteemed graduates, developed your career and skills training to improve your way of life.
Are you an alumnus of the HEART/NSTA Trust? If you are we want to understand how the training you have received has helped you.
11 Responses
I am seeking to be placed in a Job.
I am seeking summer employment
Pleasant morning, Jaden. We appreciate you reaching out to us. Our Hope Youth Summer Work Programme is not open for applications at the moment. The tentative application window is May or June 2024. You may continue to monitor our social media channels for any update. To be enrolled in this program persons are required to be between the ages of 17 to 29 the duration of the program is 3 weeks during the summer. Please note the application requirements are: TRN, NIS, Resume, Proof of Qualification, Passport Sized Photo, Bank Verification, Nation ID/School ID. Applications are done at your nearest parish office.
I would like to enroll in heart to further my education.so I can be a better man for my son to have someone to look up to.
Good day Ackeem, thanks for contacting the HEART NSTA, Trust. We apologize for the delay in our response. Kindly visit our website to view our Institution base training programs at https://ndar.heart-nta.org/programmes.aspx and our Job placement program at HEART Trust/NTA – Job Placement Portal (heart-nsta.org). Applications can be done on the same site. Please ensure you are using a desktop or laptop to complete your application. If you are having challenges physical application can be made at your nearest parish office. Please take your TRN, birth certificate, two passport sized photograph, government ID, and any proof of qualification you may have. If you are interested in our Job placement program please take a copy of your updated resume.
I wish to be placed in a job
Good day Nicole, we appreciate you reaching out to the HEART NSTA Trust. We do provide on-the-job training and certification in addition to job placement services. To assist you with making the best decision, we encourage you to visit our parish office and speak with a traineeship officer or a Job placement and facilitation officer. You can also view our website https://jobs.heart-nsta.org/Login?ReturnUrl=%2f to see the current jobs we have available.
Gemini
2.0 Flash
Conversation with Gemini
Rewrite I like the quality and the standard of heart trust certification and the impact it have on the youth and adult however one concern I have that heart trust must place the same standards like csec exam in the workplace.when a job advertise you see 5 csec subjects for the requirements but
never see a heart certificate list as the requirements when they do list the pay range low so csec have a higher standard than heart trust certificate which their has upgraded over the years but not their value compared to csec
I appreciate the quality and standards upheld by the Heart Trust NTA certification, as well as its positive impact on both youth and adults. However, a significant concern I have is the discrepancy in how Heart Trust certifications are valued in the workplace compared to CSEC qualifications.
When job opportunities are advertised, a common requirement is a minimum of five CSEC subjects. Conversely, Heart Trust certificates are rarely listed as essential qualifications. Even when they are, the associated pay scales tend to be lower, implying that CSEC holds a higher standard than Heart Trust certifications. This undervaluation persists despite the Heart Trust NTA’s significant upgrades and advancements over the years. It’s crucial that the value of Heart Trust certifications in the job market aligns with their improved standards, mirroring the recognition afforded to CSEC qualifications in the workplace.
Good day, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and observations regarding the value of HEART Trust/NSTA certifications in the job market. We truly appreciate your feedback and recognize that you’ve raised well-considered and important points.
We acknowledge the concern about the disparity in how qualifications such as CSEC and NCTVET certifications are perceived by employers, particularly in terms of job requirements and compensation. Your insight into the need for broader recognition of HEART Trust/NSTA certifications — especially given their improved quality and impact — is valid and appreciated.
As the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) is the official certification body under the Ministry of Education and Youth, we encourage you to share your feedback directly with them for further consideration. You can reach them at:
enquiry.nctvet@moey.gov.jm
Once again, thank you for your contribution to this important conversation. Your input helps support continued progress toward greater recognition of skills-based certification in Jamaica.
Goodness, I came across this and wanted to share my experience with the program. Believe or not I was actually one of the initial candidates when the program was started in 1982. I had just graduated from Kingston College at 17 and was assigned as a trainee at Times Store in the Accounting department. I was a part of the program, which was revolutionary at the time , until I left Jamaica in December 1983. It was a huge learning experience and started, for me a great career. Because of my experience in the program, I was able to get a very good recommendation for my first job in the United States from the Manager at Times Store. To this day I still see that experience as what got me prepared for my eventual path to a 30+ years in leadership and management. Culminating in a successful career as a District Manager responsible for 14 stores. This was an important opportunity for me at the time and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Heart Program.
Good afternoon, Everton. Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s truly inspiring to hear how your early participation in the programme helped shape such a successful and impactful career path. We are pleased to know that your training placement at Times Store provided valuable hands-on experience, a strong recommendation, and a foundation that supported your long-term career growth in leadership and management. Your story reflects exactly what the programme was designed to achieve—providing meaningful opportunities that build skills, confidence, and long-term professional success. We also believe your journey will serve as motivation to others, showing the lasting impact of this programme across generations. We sincerely thank you for sharing your story so that others can see the value and lasting impact of this opportunity.