The School of Education, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, is delighted to announce the UWI Schools of Education (SOE) Biennial Conference 2024, taking place on July 8-10, 2024, in Kingston, Jamaica. The conference will feature three days of stimulating discussions, debates, and networking opportunities, taking place at the UWI Regional Headquarters (July 8-9) and the School of Education, UWI Mona (July 10).
The theme for this year's conference is "Revolutionizing Caribbean Education: Cultivating Critical Competences in a Shifting Landscape." This timely focus addresses the various phenomena impacting education systems at all levels, including the COVID-19 pandemic, generative artificial intelligence, climate change, and school violence. These crises underscore the need for the educational landscape to rapidly evolve in response to these challenges.
 
The SOE Biennial Conference 2024 aims to provide a platform for education stakeholders to explore and discuss these critical issues. The event targets a wide audience, including policy-makers, university lecturers, principals, teachers, teacher educators, education officers, guidance counsellors, deans of discipline, researchers in academia and industry, and research students. Participants will have opportunities to network, share research, and strategize on developing new competences and policies for a rapidly changing world.
 
Conference highlights include an Education Forum themed "Supporting Jamaican Educators - Stakeholder Perspectives," and workshops focusing on the impact and use of artificial intelligence in classrooms, as well as leadership in early childhood education. Additionally, the Blended Learning Challenge aims to distill exemplary practices for cultivating critical blended learning competences. The event will also mark the launch of the new Mona Campus, School of Education journal, "Caribbean Journal of Education and Development."
 
Participants will present panel discussions, papers, and posters on various thematic strands, including Technology and Education, Inclusive and Special Education, Leadership and Management, Environmental and Sustainability Education, and Educational Adaptation.
 
Research shared at the conference can inform policy and decision-making, providing opportunities for professional learning and networking. Education stakeholders and the general public are encouraged to register for attendance to benefit from the wealth of knowledge and insights that will be shared.