Jamaica Business and Higher Education

Jamaica Business and Higher Education

Higher Education & Business Today

Focus on Jamaica

Business confidence in Jamaica has suffered a hit due to recent rises in crime and "and government bureaucracy, as reported recently, and we also implemented the inhibitive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)." (Chung, 2005 Jamaica Observer) Since Wilma wracked the area many of the citizens of Jamaica are without a means to make a living and much readjusting is taking place. Chung (2005) reports "a shortfall in revenue of $5.1 billion, or 7% of budgeted revenue" and stated further is "It is highly unlikely that the picture will be any better as (1) wages, salaries and interest are pretty fixed ($1.8 billion has been added from the renegotiated MOU); and (2) Wilma will ensure that government expenditures increase." (Chung, 2005) The economy is not expected to improve until sometime next year. Stressors upon the Jamaican economy are high oil prices and the sluggish U.S. economy according to Chung (2005) however Chung's reiteration of the problem areas of productivity and crime affirm these two as the main sources of economic stress in Jamaica.

According to an October 19, 2005 report published by the Jamaica Observer Reporter "Tourism earnings are expected to reach U.S.$2.9 billion within the next five years, doubling the current inflow which has basically remained flat for ten years." Reported is Prime Minister PJ Patterson's statement that he expected the "tourism sector to employ some 130,000 Jamaicans by 2010 - representing an annual increase of six percent." Stated as well is that Patterson "pointed to supporting infrastructure like the international airports, harbors, and communication systems that were being developed to support the growth in tourism. There were, he noted, other spin-off benefits from the industry. Strong linkages with other important economic sectors, notably agriculture and manufacturing, are classic indicators of tourism-led development. In Jamaica the agro-industry provides a prime example of the substantial opportunities for backward and forward linkages for the industry." (The Jamaica Observer, 19 Oct 2005)

Reported is that Patterson, while attending the tourism forum in Montego Bay..."called on the academic community to become fully engaged in the growth of the sector through the coordination of education and training programmes to meet the employment and human resource needs of the industry." (Observer Reporter, 19 Oct 2005) Stated as well was that Patterson "said the region should invest more in tertiary tourism education and training institutions and establish a tradition of scholarship in hospitality and tourism." (The Jamaica Observer, 19 Oct 2005)

Reported in a separate article is the fact that manufacturing firms that "cannot afford any longer to manufacture in Europe because of high input costs and high wages" are reported to be finding the Caribbean to be "an attractive proposition." (Edwards, The Jamaica Observer, 21 Oct 2005)

With all this in mind it is quite clear that new and talented leadership in the hospitality industry will be needed in Jamaica and most specifically leadership that is technologically educated and trained for the information system implementations that will be required of the hospitality industry in today's contemporary and global environment. Furthermore, the weather which has spawned so many hurricanes wreaking such havoc not only in Jamaica but throughout the world the requirement in leadership is more critical than any time previous in relation to the planning, engineering and development of locations such as Jamaica. Jamaica has great potential in terms of industry growth but at the same time it must be ever mindful of threats such as hurricanes and flooding events. Another aspect of the growth potential in Jamaica is stated in the aspect of the manufacturing growth projection and as well the agricultural sector of the Jamaican economy is projected to experience growth. With growth in all these sectors of business further growth will follow in the shipping and receiving waterways, including marinas and dock areas. It is clear that integration between business and higher-education is a must in order to optimize the growth and maximize the benefits of all presented possibilities in Jamaican business and industry. One last thought is this: as job opportunities open up and more educated workers become employed in Jamaica at higher wages with better benefits and as the public at large experiences a better standard of living with this growth the poverty and the associated crime rate will drop and confidence in the business sector will stabilize. Provision of education for the next generation of business leaders should most definitely be a priority for Jamaica and this element is certainly key to the upward climb of living standards in the Jamaica living environment.