The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is supporting Jamaica in the establishment of a Postgraduate Educational Course (PGEC) in Radiation Protection at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), scheduled to run between March and September 2026. A prerequisite for IAEA support of the implementation of a PGEC is that the host country conducts an Educational and Training Appraisal (EduTA) mission. The EduTA mission serves as a peer-review mechanism to assess the State’s policies and plans for the education and training of radiation workers at all levels. As part of the national strategy, the proposed PGEC was subject to this review.

 

The EduTA mission was conducted by an experienced IAEA team comprising three experts: Mr. Sotiris Economides of the Greek Atomic Energy Commission, Ms. Amparo Cristobal, IAEA EduTA coordinator and Mr. Daniele Giufrida of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation in the United Arab Emirates.

 

During the mission, the team met with key stakeholder organizations, including the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at The UWI, The International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS), Hazardous Substances Regulatory Authority (HSRA), and the Ministry of Health (MoH). Site visits were also conducted at partner training institutions, namely the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Nuttall Memorial Hospital, ICENS, UWISTAR, and the FST.

 

The EduTA team has conditionally approved the first edition of the PGEC in Jamaica. The programme is tentatively scheduled to commence on March 30, 2026, with a virtual component, followed by a face-to-face component from June 1 to September 18, 2026.

 

• Front Row (L-R): Prof Michael Taylor (Dean, FST, The UWI Mona), Dr. Oliviene Burke (UWISTAR), Ms. Amparo Cristobal, Mr. Sotiris Economides, Mr. Jason-Cole Smith (HSRA), Mr. Daniele Giufrida
• Back Row (L-R): Ms. Colleen NAttie (HSRA), Mr. Sanchez Palmer (MoH/UWI), Dr. Cliff Riley (HSRA).