Amber Academy places Jamaica in Global Demand For Coders

Public and private sector stakeholders have welcomed the Amber HEART Coding Academy company as a groundbreaking development that will usher in a new age of digital transformation locally and enable Jamaica to tap into the global demand for coders.

The academy was officially started on January 14 by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

In a joint effort with the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) Program and the Art of Living Foundation, Andrew Holness is a connection between the HEART/NSTA Trust and the Amber Group, in collaboration with the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Use (HOPE) Programme and the Art of Living Foundation.

They will train thousands of young Jamaicans as software developers, significantly increasing their employability and putting Jamaica as a technological leader in the Caribbean region.

“This Amber HEART Coding Academy, we think, is a highly important step that too in the right path towards making the digital economy of Jamaica and also towards making the future of Jamaica as the technological hub of the region,” said President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Diane Edwards, in her comments at the launch.

She pointed out that with a global lack of up to 40 million information technology (IT) workers in 2020, the training of coders in Jamaica will equip young people with basic career skills for their own future, as they help to build Jamaica’s digital economy and provide very viable services export sector.

“Currently, JAMPRO is the managing agency for the Global Services Sector (GSS) Project, of which is also a component is the upskilling of Jamaicans for technology-based outsourcing jobs now and in preparation for the future of work in a very digitally connected world,” Ms. Edwards stated.

“This initiative stands very well with the GSS Project and also augurs well for the good future of Jamaica’s increase and success. JAMPRO will support this initiative by managing to expand the outsourcing industry and attract more high quality IT outsourcing jobs to Jamaica,” she added.