JMEA signs workforce deal with DeVry

Less than a week after being re-elected to lead the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), President Kathryn Silvera has acted on the commitment that defined her campaign for a second term: closing the skills gap facing Jamaica’s manufacturing and export sector.

During a signing ceremony held on Tuesday at the JAMPRO Training Room in Kingston, the JMEA formalised a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DeVry University, a partnership that will give JMEA member companies and their employees access to globally relevant programmes and educational pathways, from certificates to graduate degrees, without having to leave Jamaica to earn them.

Skills development and inclusion is one of five strategic priorities Silvera laid out upon her re-election last Wednesday.

The DeVry University partnership represents the first tangible delivery against that commitment, providing JMEA members with access to globally relevant programmes and educational pathways designed to strengthen workforce capability and competitiveness across the manufacturing and export sectors.

The problem is one that Silvera has heard consistently from members across the sector. Whether running a food processing plant, an apparel factory or an export logistics operation, the conversation keeps returning to the same pressure point: the gap between what Jamaica’s manufacturing workforce currently knows, and what the demands of a changing global economy now require.

Challenge Driving Agenda

Supply chain complexity, technology integration, export compliance and operations management have all raised the skills bar while training systems have struggled to keep pace. For workers seeking internationally recognised credentials, the choice has historically been stark: stay home and limit your qualifications or leave to get them. The JMEA-DeVry agreement is built to remove that choice entirely.

Both organisations will jointly develop a plan within 30 days of signing, with quarterly reviews to track enrollment, programme uptake and workforce impact across the JMEA membership.

“Every conversation I have with our members, whether they are running a food processing plant, an apparel factory, or an export logistics operation, comes back to the same challenge: people. Specifically, the skills our people have, and the skills they need to compete in a region and a world that is changing faster than our training systems can keep up with,” Silvera said.

“This partnership with DeVry University is about expanding access and creating more opportunities for our workforce. It is not about replacing our local tertiary institutions, it is a complement to the strong foundation they already provide. By giving our members an affordable pathway to internationally recognised credentials, we help businesses strengthen their capabilities, retain skilled talent, and give professionals more opportunities to build their future in Jamaica.

“Strong economies are built on strong talent pipelines. Through this partnership with JMEA, we’re helping employers invest in their workforce while creating more accessible opportunities for professionals to gain the skills and credentials needed to thrive in today’s technology-driven economy,” said Scarlett Howery, vice president of Strategic Partnerships at DeVry University.

“We look forward to working alongside JMEA to support Jamaica’s manufacturing and export industries as they prepare for the future of work.”

Next steps

Information sessions for JMEA member companies and their employees will be announced in the coming weeks. Members seeking further information may contact the JMEA Secretariat directly.

What partnership delivers

Under the agreement, JMEA members and their employees will gain access to:

. Industry-aligned certificates and customised learning pathways

. Courses in supply chain management, logistics, operations excellence, technology integration and other relevant topics

. Complimentary professional development webinars and learning sessions

. Fifty per cent tuition savings scholarships for qualifying programmes and waived application fees for eligible employees