It’s more than just a vacation destination.
At the end of the month, we will be in Kingston, Jamaica with an awesome group of universities and colleges to recruit local students. Our goal is to provide our event participants with a high-end, all-inclusive experience (Cue Michael Scott’s hilarious facial expression. Can’t talk about Jamaica without remembering this gem from The Office!) so that they can focus on doing what they do best, selling their school.
Throughout the organization of this tour, we’ve heard “Jamaica? Yea, let me run THAT by my boss!” quite a bit, usually with a slight sarcastic undertone. However, we know Jamaica has great potential as a recruitment destination. If you’d like to know why, keep reading.
1) Size
With 2.8 million people, Jamaica is the third-most populous country in the Americas (after the United States and Canada), and the fourth-most populous country in the Caribbean.
2) Economy
Jamaica is a mixed economy with both state enterprises and private sector businesses. Major sectors of the Jamaican economy include agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, and financial and insurance services. Tourism and mining are the leading earners of foreign exchange. Half the Jamaican economy relies on services, with half of its income coming from services such as tourism. An estimated 1.3 million foreign tourists visit Jamaica every year
3) English Skill
Jamaica is regarded as a bilingual country, with two major languages in use by the population. The official language is Jamaican Standard English (JSE) or Standard Jamaican English (SJE), which is “used in all domains of public life”, including the government, the legal system, the media, and education. However, the primary spoken language is an English-based creole called Jamaican Patois (or Patwa)
4) Education System
Education in Jamaica is primarily modeled on the British Education System. Generally, A-Levels or CAPE examinations are required to enter the nation’s Universities. One may also qualify after having earned a 3-year diploma from an accredited post-secondary college. The word college usually denotes institutions which do not grant at least a bachelor’s degree. Universities are typically the only degree granting institutions; however, many colleges have been creating joint programs with universities, and thus are able to offer some students more than a college diploma. A few universities in the United States have extension programs in various parts of Jamaica. Most of the students who enroll in these part-time programs are working professionals who want to continue their education without having to relocate closer to the nation’s Universities.
5) Study Abroad Numbers
according to the Institute of International Education (2016), a total number of 2510 Jamaican students studied in the US during 2015/16. A 2.9% increase from previous year.
If you’re interested in learning more about our upcoming tour, or have specific questions about recruiting in Jamaica, please feel free to contact us!
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