Department of Government, UWI Mona

Today, the Department of Government was pleased to host the Youth X AI Forum in observance of International Youth Day 2026, in collaboration with the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM), United Nations Jamaica and the Youth Advisory Group (YAG).

Under the International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” the forum brought young people into a timely conversation about Artificial Intelligence and the ways it is already reshaping education, employment, innovation and everyday life.

The afternoon brought together youth leaders, academics, policymakers, educators, members of the diplomatic and international community and representatives of the United Nations system to consider both the opportunities AI is creating and the questions it raises for Jamaica and other small states.

We were pleased to welcome Dr. Dennis Zulu, UN Resident Coordinator; Dr. Kishan Khoday, UNDP Resident Representative; Mr. Eric Falt, UNESCO Regional Director for the Caribbean; Dr. Marcia Rowe-Amonde, Senior Director for Standards, Curriculum and Learning Resource Development at HEART/NSTA Trust; Professor Lila Rao-Graham, Acting Executive Director of MSBM; Dr. Gavin Myers, along with our presenters, panellists, partners and members of the Youth Advisory Group.

A central message throughout the forum was clear: young people should not simply experience the changes brought by AI. They should have a voice in shaping what comes next.

Thank you to our partners, speakers and everyone who joined us for an engaging afternoon of ideas, questions and conversation.

International Relations majors, here’s a quick guide to the Year 2 and 3 courses being offered across Semesters 1 and 2.

Political Science students

IMPORTANT FOR YEAR 2 & 3 STUDENTS
Some courses are offered in ONE semester only.

Please take note of the semester in which your required courses are offered and plan your registration accordingly.

Planning your courses for 2026/2027?

Here’s a quick guide to the 2nd and 3rd year DGOV courses being offered across Semesters 1 and 2.

This morning, the Office of the Campus Principal and the Department of Government hosted The Honourable Dr Horace Chang, ON, MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, for a conversation at the University Council Room.

The session gave members of the University community an opportunity to hear directly from Dr Chang on the realities of national security and public leadership, while also creating space for questions, different perspectives and a frank exchange on some of the issues shaping Jamaica today.

For the Department, these conversations are an important part of connecting what we teach and study with the people, institutions and decisions that shape public life.

Please register to join us on Tuesday in-person or online.
——

As we count down to the inaugural New Freedom Lecture, meet one of our distinguished panellists, who will help shape this important public conversation.

Dr Lisa Vasciannie is Head of the Department of Government at The University of the West Indies, Mona. Her work in governance and foreign policy brings valuable insight into the legal, political and institutional questions that will arise from this year’s Freedom Lecture theme.

Following the keynote address by The Honourable Mr Justice Winston Anderson, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the panel will examine the wider issues arising from this year’s theme, No First Use of Nuclear Weapons: The Limits of Law?

▫️Tuesday, 4 August 2026
▫️6:00 p.m. EST (Jamaica) | 7:00 p.m. AST
▫️Aubrey Fraser Lecture Theatre, Norman Manley Law School
💻 Attend in person or watch the livestream.

Admission is free.

Register and learn more: www.thefreedomlecture.com

Applications for UWI Mona Scholarships and Bursaries for the 2026/2027 academic year open August 15, 2026.

If you’re looking for support for the upcoming academic year, take some time to explore the available opportunities and see what you may be eligible for.

Be sure to check the requirements and submit your application by September 15, 2026.

Scan the QR code for details.

Great conversations start with great company. It was a privilege to host Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Hardley Lewin and Brigadier Errol Johnson, CD, JP, and to hear stories and reflections from their commendable years of national service.

🔴 From the parade square to the policy arena: DGOV was proud to engage with cadets and their families at the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force Force Camp 2026 Open Day!

📍 DGOV at the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force Force Camp 2026 Open Day
The Department of Government, UWI Mona, was delighted to participate in the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force Force Camp 2026 Open Day, where we engaged with cadets, parents, and members of the public about the academic opportunities available within the Department.

Visitors to our booth learned more about our undergraduate programmes in International Relations, Political Science, Public Policy and Management, Political Leadership, Strategy and Management, and Politics and International Cooperation. We also shared information about career pathways in diplomacy, public service, international organizations, policy analysis, governance, and leadership.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to connect with us. We enjoyed the opportunity to discuss how the study of government, politics, and international affairs equips students to understand and shape the societies in which they live and work.

We look forward to welcoming the next generation of leaders and changemakers to DGOV.
Governance Leadership JCCF UWIRecruitment FacultyofSocialSciences UpgradeYourself

Our Head of Department, Dr. Lisa Vasciannie, with Member of Parliament Christopher Brown, who will engage with the Department in the upcoming academic year and share his knowledge and experience with our students.