UCCI CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL SOCIAL WORK SYMPOSIUM

The University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) is delighted to announce the success of its Inaugural Social Work Symposium, which took place on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM in the Sir Vassel Johnson Hall. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Department of Children and family Services.  It marked a significant achievement in UCCI’s commitment to building robust community partnerships in delivering social work education, and fostering advancement in social work, education, sustainable development, policy both locally and across the Caribbean. 

A major highlight of the symposium was the launching of the Joyce Hylton Memorial Scholarship value at one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars ($115,000) for social work students.

The symposium boasted an impressive lineup of speakers both in-person and virtually, including:

• The Honourable Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale, who delivered the feature addresson “Building Legacies in Social Work Practice” acknowledged the intertwining relationship between social work and the justice systems and challenged social workers to implement community led innovative practices that aimed to protect, restore and transform.

• Ms. Tamara Ebanks, Chief Officer for the Ministry of Investment, Innovation & Social Development, who offered remarks highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting social work and social development.

• Dr. Megan Swaby, Lecturer at The Mico University College, Dr. Talia Esnard, Head of the Department of Behavioural Sciences at The University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, Dr. Tamarah Moss, Assistant Professor at Bryn Mawr College, and UCCI’s very own Dr. Christopher Williams, Associate Professor, who participated in a panel discussion on “Culture, Social Work Practice, and Transformative Change.”

• and Dr. Carolyn Allen, Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of the Virgin Islands, contributed to the dialogue on leveraging Artificial Intelligence to improve social work practice in the Caribbean, and.

• Mr. Bertrand Moses, Child Protection Officer at  UNICEF, Eastern Caribbean Area Office shared innovative perspectives on integrating mental health and psychosocial support into child protection. 

 The symposium witnessed an exceptional turnout, bringing together a diverse group of participants, including leading academics, practitioners, and policymakers in the field of social work. The day was filled with engaging discussions, insightful keynote addresses, and dynamic panel debates covering a wide range of critical issues facing the social services sector today.

Dr. Robert Robertson, President and CEO of UCCI, shared his thoughts on the symposium’s success, stating, “We are thrilled with the overwhelming response to our Inaugural Social Work Symposium. The high level of engagement and the quality of discussions that took place are testaments to the passion and commitment that exist towards advancing the social work field in our community and beyond. This event has set a solid foundation for pursuing other MOUs in addition to the existing ones with the University of the West Indies and MICO University College and, for future dialogues and initiatives aimed at enhancing the impact of social work and social services.”

 UCCI is committed to nurturing the next generation of social work professionals through its comprehensive social work programme. The bespoke programme at UCCI is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding required to make a significant difference in the lives of individuals and communities within the Cayman Islands.

UCCI extends its gratitude to all the speakers, panelists, and participants who contributed to the success of the symposium. UCCI looks forward to building on the momentum generated by this event to continue driving forward the conversation and action in the field of social work.