The UWI Mona Campus recently welcomed a historic visit from UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, the first official visit of its kind to Jamaica in over two decades. The occasion marked a meaningful milestone in the longstanding relationship between The UWI and UNESCO, while opening new pathways for collaboration across the Caribbean.

Professor El-Enany, who assumed office on November 15, 2025, delivered a compelling public lecture under his guiding vision of “UNESCO for the People.” Drawing on his extensive background in academia, public service, and international cultural leadership including his tenure as Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, he emphasised the importance of inclusive, globally connected approaches to education, science, and heritage.

Addressing a full lecture room, Professor El-Enany spoke on UNESCO’s mission and how it aligned with The UWI’s.  He spoke of his visit to the Bob Marley museum and reflected on Bob Marley’s message, “we are all one people, despite any differences. This is the objective of UNESCO.” He went on to discuss his dream of being a part of UNESCO but not being able to join the organisation immediately.  “I did not work at UNESCO but I spent all my career working on the fields of competence so I have first-hand experience.” The Director General outlined his campaign and said to the students, “Fix your dream, work to prepare yourself to be ready for this dream and never abandon it, you will get it one day.”  

A key highlight of the visit was the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI), establishing a framework for strengthened cooperation between UNESCO and The UWI in priority areas such as education, science, culture, and youth engagement. While non-binding, the agreement sets the stage for expanded joint initiatives and deeper institutional alignment with global development goals at its core.

The visit also showcased several impactful UNESCO supported initiatives led by The UWI, Mona’s Faculty of Science and Technology. Among them, the Walking in Her Footsteps (WIHFS) National STEM Mentorship Programme continues to empower students through mentorship, experiential learning, and community engagement, with growing national reach. Another collaboration which further demonstrates a commitment to equity in science is the WISE (Women in Science Emergency) Micro-Grant Scheme, launched in 2026. This scheme supports early-career female researchers impacted by Hurricane Melissa, ensuring continuity in critical research. The programme is inclusive, with awardees from The UWI as well as the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), Northern Caribbean University (NCU), and the University of Technology (UTECH). The WISE awardees were in attendance and were specially acknowledged by the Director-General.

Additionally, the Caribbean Regional X-ray Science Toward Advancement Laboratory (crXstal), launched in 2024, stands as a major advancement in regional scientific infrastructure, providing the only advanced X-ray diffraction facility in the English-speaking Caribbean. Complementing this is the Caribbean Crystallography School, which is building regional expertise in X-ray techniques.

The Director-General’s visit also included a stop at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), a UNESCO-rooted institution that has played a foundational role in developing media and communication capacity in the region since its establishment in 1974.

This landmark engagement not only celebrated decades of collaboration between UNESCO and The UWI, Mona but also signalled a renewed and forward-looking partnership. Through shared vision and strategic cooperation, both institutions are well-positioned to expand their impact on education, science, culture, and youth development across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.