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 Jamaica. Specialists, competitors, and educational leaders convened at the Cardiff Hotel & Spa in Runaway Bay, St. Ann. The global contingent included representatives from powerhouse nations such as China, Singapore, Brazil, Barbados, Canada, and host nation Jamaica.
By staging this event, the HEART/NSTA Trust made a striking statement of institutional intent: a nation of fewer than three million people successfully hosted an international training camp for some of the world’s most advanced technical disciplines, firmly anchoring Jamaica as the recognized hub for skills development in the Caribbean.
Leading, Not Following: Keynote Highlights
Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony, Dr. Taneisha Ingleton, Managing Director of the HEART/NSTA Trust—who also serves as CEO and Official Delegate for WorldSkills Jamaica—welcomed the international delegation and outlined the stakes plainly. She emphasized that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) will be one of the defining drivers of global economic growth over the next two decades, asserting that Jamaica intends to lead, not follow.
That ambition was echoed by Derek Murphy, General Manager of Studica Robotics. He affirmed that the camp’s ultimate purpose: to strengthen the Jamaican economy through TVET while reaffirming Studica’s long-term commitment to expanding human development on the island.
Representing the Ministry of Education, Skills Youth and Information, Assistant Chief Education Officer Ms. Sherene Davy-Stubbs delivered remarks on behalf of Permanent Secretary Dr. Kasan Troupe. She underscored the critical importance of continued alignment between the Ministry and the strategic programmes offered by the HEART/NSTA Trust.
Ms. Davy-Stubbs also highlighted the teacher-training initiatives currently underway in Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones), describing them as a major pedagogical milestone for Jamaica’s education sector. This initiative signifies that the country is not merely training isolated competitors but actively building the institutional capacity to teach these advanced skills at scale.
Why This Camp Matters
The intensive five-day camp was far more than a week of training; it was a critical precursor to the global stage in Shanghai China, where Jamaica will compete in four advanced skill areas, later this year in September:
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones)
- Autonomous Mobile Robotics
- Optoelectronics Technology
- ICT Network Infrastructure
These are not abstract competencies. They feed directly into the modern industries shaping Jamaica’s economic future—including manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and national security—and drive the country’s wider agenda of workforce modernization and digital transformation.
Recap of the Week: From Instruction to Full-Blown Competition
The Launch and Early Trials
The Opening Ceremony marked the start of a packed programme blending specialist-led training, cultural exchange, and friendly rivalry. The week also featured high school tours of the competition site, and a public Robotics Demonstration and Engagement Session designed to show young Jamaicans that technical careers are viable, rewarding, and well within reach.
The technical work kicked off on Tuesday morning with navigation activities, where participants tested prototypes and calibrated programmes. By Tuesday afternoon, robots were set in motion and drones took to the skies, marking a smooth transition from preliminary trials to active operations. Come Wednesday, however, the collaborative spirit gave way to full-blown simulation matches as teams began vying against one another under strict international benchmarks.
Testing, Evaluation, and the “Soft Skills” Gap
The final two days of the camp were heavily weighted toward rigorous testing and evaluation. In the lead-up to this phase, international experts received targeted guidance on how to interpret and appraise complex WorldSkills assessment instruments.
Reflecting on past international performances, Mr. Dwayne Bent, Technical Delegate for WorldSkills Jamaica, noted a vital lesson for the trainers. He emphasized that shortcomings in past competitions often stemmed not from technical failures, but from overlooked soft skills. He reminded competitors that elements like workmanship, cleanliness, workspace organization, professional interpersonal interaction, and clear communication with peers and competition managers carry significant weight in the final global scoring matrix.
Looking Ahead
As the camp culminated in its Closing Ceremony, Studica Robotics General Manager Derek Murphy put the entire initiative into global context. He pointed out that Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Autonomous Mobile Robotics currently rank among the top seven emerging skills globally, with UAS taking the number-one spot.
Through this decisive five-day event, the HEART/NSTA Trust, through WorldSkills Jamaica has positioned our nation at the center of the international WorldSkills movement, closing the industrial labour gap, empowering the country’s youth, and raising the bar for vocational excellence.
Follow the Journey: You can track the national team’s progress and updates through our website and official social media platforms as Jamaica prepares to compete—and excel—on the world stage in Shanghai, China come September 22-27, 2026.