UB Ebulletin Issue 1 Volume 7

Building national capacity: transforming Belize Student teachers of the Secondary and Primary Teacher Training Programmes in the Banana Belt Communities on September 23 mounted an exhibition displaying the range of tools they acquired from their skills training.

The training program for the student teachers resulted from a BZ $1.2 million project funded by the European Union to upgrade the quality of teachers involved in early childhood in the Banana Belt communities of Belize.

“We are confident that at the end of these programs, the Toledo and Stann Creek districts will jump to the top of statistics for the number of trained teachers.”

EU Ambassador Paola Amadei

“…for the first time in the district and for the very first time in the history of the nation, a district has 100 per cent trained teachers at that level, ” said Minster Faber. “The University of Belize has been a constant support for the ministry’s efforts in teacher training.”

Dignitaries at the “Education Day” event included the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Hon. Patrick Faber, Ambassador Paola Amadei, the Head of Delegation, European Union Delegation to Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands and Cayman Islands, the President of the University of Belize, Dr. Cary Fraser, the Chair and Vice Chair of UB Board of Trustees, Mrs. Imani FairweatherMorrison and Mr. Deryck Satchwell, as well as Chief Executive Officers of the ministries of Economic Development and Education, Youth and Sports, Ambassador Yvonne Hyde and Mr. David Leacock respectively.

Hon. Patrick Faber

“These projects have been useful in helping the University to think about the way forward in teacher education, how to build a national system that both integrate and create space for the ethnic and cultural pluralism that defines Belize.”

Dr. Cary Fraser

“In view of the important link between teacher quality and student achievement in preparation for adulthood and the work environment, significant resources have been put towards school infrastructure, teacher training and support under the Banana Support Programme.”

The project was launched in November 2010 and undertaken by the University of Belize in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

The event was held at the Georgetown Technical High School (GTHS) and will also serve as the venue for graduation ceremonies for the 150 student teachers at the end of October.

Ambassador Yvonne Hyde

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Managing the effects of climate change in Belize’s development The University of Belize was the venue for the launch of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Government of Belize and the support of the European Union Project “Enhancing Belize’s Resilience to Adapt to the Effects of Climate Change” on September 24. The project aims to enhance adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change in national policies, and demonstrate action to support effective responses to governance of climate change in the water sector in Belize.

It is funded by the European Union (EU) – Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA).

Sen. Hon. Lisel Alamilla The budget for the project amounts E 3,170,746, with E2.9 million being provided by the European Union (EU) and E 270,746 in contribution from the UNDP and Government of Belize. The project will be implemented by UNDP over a 28-month period from 2012 to 2014.

“the government of Belize is investigating integrated solutions to the challenges of climate change as well as exploring the possibilities of changing climate and the environment,” said the Minister. “These solutions…must be our own and requires the combined partnership of the government, the local authority, and stakeholders of the country’s development sectors; Civil Society and the national citizenry.”

Sen. Hon. Alamilla

“We need to make sure that our human capital can manage the consequences of Climate Change in Belize and the region.”

Dr. Fraser

“the United Nations and its specialized agencies…have committed their talents and resources to investigate global solutions to the challenges of climate change…”

Mr. Roberto Valent

“EU development policy should promote a green economy that can generate growth, create jobs and help reduce poverty by valuing and investing in natural capital…”

Ambassador Amadei

The project was developed within the GCCA Dr. Cary Fraser

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framework, and it focuses upon building capacity to plan for, and to manage, the effects of climate change upon Belize. The country will likely experience increasing vulnerability to climate change and needs to build adaptive capacity to manage its resources sensititive to the impact of climate change.

GCCA was launched in 2007 by the European Commission to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on Climate Change between the European Union (EU) and developing countries Mr. Roberto Valent most vulnerable to climate change. The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are likely to be hit hardest by the adverse effects of climate change even though they have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions.

The GCCA project operates as a part of a larger portfolio of initiatives being organized by the newly created climate change office in the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development. The project addresses priority areas of action identified in the Caribbean Regional Climate Support Strategy through capacity building support for natural resources management in light of climate change considerations.

Speaking at the event were the Hon. Lisel Alamilla, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development (FFSD), Mr. Roberto Valent, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme, Her Excellency, Ambassador Paola Amadei, Head of EU Delegation to Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands and Cayman Islands, and the President of the University of Belize, Dr. Cary Fraser. Other special invited guests were the Hon. Godwin Hulse, Minister of Labour, Local Government, Rural Development and NEMO, Chief Executive Officers, representatives of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), representatives from national and regional agencies and organizations, and senior public officers.

Ambassador Paola Amadei

Notwithstanding the pivotal role of UNDP and FFSD for the effective implementation of the project, support will also be provided by other key government ministries such as Natural Resources and Agriculture, Labour, Local Government, Rural Development and NEMO, and the Southern Environmental Association.

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Building relationship: Central American Universities

A delegation from the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (UNA) visited the University of Belize in September to learn about the formal and informal education system in rural Belize.

The students and delegates were given an overview of the Faculty of Education and Arts in relation to its programs in particular its work in enVisiting delegation hancing access to quality education for rural communities and indigenous peoples. They were also introduced to the Regional Language Centre which delivers English language instruction to non-English speaking nationals.

The visit to UB is a result of Mrs. Lisa Carballo, a Curriculum Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in Orange Walk who is the only Belizean in this cohort that is enrolled in a Masters Program at UNA. As part of the Program, UNA travels to Central American Countries. Therefore, as a result of Mrs. Carballo’s enrollment, arrangements were made for the UNA delegation to visit the University of Belize as part of a learning experience and an opportunity for the two Universities to explore opportunities of forging relationships.

CARPIMS Recipients Two recipients of the Caribbean-Pacific Island Mobility Scheme (CARPIMS) program, Ms. Allison Dolland and Ms. Leah Fouchong, pose with the President of the University of Belize, Dr. Cary Fraser. Allison is on a staff mobility and during her month attachment will work with the Library staff in areas such as Service Standards, Resource Standards and Human Resource Development.

She is from the Alma Jordan Library, University of West Indies, St. Augustine campus, Trinidad and Tobago. Leah is on an 18 month student mobility and is enrolled in the University’s Masters Program in Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development.

CARPIMS is a project designed to facilitate the movement of Masters and PhD students, and staff between a Allison (L) and Leah (R) with Dr. Fraser consortium of Universities from the Caribbean and Pacific regions. The goal is to build the research and teaching capacity of each participating institution and contribute to the socio-economic development of the respective regions. CARPMIS is funded by a grant from the European Union.

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Students score high: National Service Day

Students and lecturers of the Advanced Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) of the Faculty of Education and Arts participated in service activities in honour of the late Rt. Hon. George Price. In Belize City, students in collaboration with UB assistant professors Dr. Maxine McKay and Dr. Silvaana Udz, visited the Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center where they performed patriotic songs, poems, dances and educational activities.

Service to the community

In Belmopan, students participated in a beautification project as part of National Community Service Day at the Central Campus. They were assisted by lecturers from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Dr. Arlenie Perez-Rodgers and Mrs. Latha Thomas, and Mrs. Pearl Fraser, the wife of the President. A variety of plants were transplanted in an effort to create visually vibrant areas around the campus.

All hands on deck

Kudos to the students, volunteers and friends!

Students parade on Independence Day

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UB/ERI Scientists deliver findings at XVI Mesoamerican Congress

Scientists from the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute presented findings of their research entitled, “Long-term monitoring of jaguars in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize” at the XVI Congress of the Mesoamerican Society for Biology and Conservation that was held in Panama City, Panama in September. They described the collaborative research by the ERI and Panthera on the spatial dynamics of the region’s jaguar population.

The other presentation titled “People, Predators and Prey: game meat consumption in Belize”, presented the results of a nationwide study of hunting. They assessed whether game meat consumption at current rates is sustainable and discussed how over-exploitation of wild animals poses challenges to large cat conservation.

UB/ERI scientists and staff at the event included Dr Elma Kay, Dr Bart Harmsen, Wildlife Biologist, Emma Sanchez as well as active members of MSBC’s Belize Chapter, and Dr. Rebecca Foster of Panthera.

Denver Cayetano, student and ERI’s Publication Assisant also attended the Congress.

Smiling scientists

The MSBC Congress is held every year and attracts over 500 people from other continents to discuss the progress Future scientist of their research, to share experiences, and to strengthen partnerships between institutions and researchers in various fields related to the study of climate change and natural resources of this region of the world. The Congress numbers nine chapters throughout the countries of Mesoamerica.

The theme of this year’s Congress was “Valoracion De Los Recursos Hidricos: Un Paso Hacia La Sostenibilidad En Mesoamerica” or, in English: Valuation of Water Resources: A Step Towards Sustainability in Mesoamerica.

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Remote Sensing & Land Management Use

Lecturer and Program Coordinator of the Natural Resource Management Program of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Mr. Santos Chicas, will attend a 1-month training in Remote Sensing and Land Use Management at the Centre for International Post Graduate Studies in Environmental Management in Dresden, Germany. With the training Mr. Chicas will broaden his experience and will be able to train students and professionals more effectively in satellite imagery analysis. He is scheduled to leave in November. The training is being funded by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

NRM Students on the go Abidas Ash and Allan Romero, two proud students from the Natural Resource Management Program will be receiving training in Bird monitoring at the Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education (BFREE). BFREE is located near the Bladden Nature Reserve in the Toledo District. Ms. Ash and Mr. Romero will learn techniques used to capture, tag and record data on the species,

size and weight of birds found in this area.

This data will help to identify bird species as native or migratory birds and will help to monitor these species over a period of time. This training, which will be is funded by the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) will commence October and will take place on the weekends for a period of one year.

Exchange Program with Canadian University

Vaneiri Keme is this year’s recipient of the NRM-Canada exchange program. For the past three years students enrolled in the NRM program have had the opportunity to visit the Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, Canada. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 to apply. The selected individual is expected to deliver a presentation of Belize’s natural resources to undergraduate students at Thompson Rivers University. During her two weeks stay, Vaneiri will have the opportunity to attend environmental courses as well as participate in planned field trips where she will be exposed to Canada’s ecosystems. Upon her return, Vaneiri will be presenting to NRM students in an effort to motivate them to apply for next year’s selection.

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Brown Bag Session: Science Power!

The Ministry of Energy, Science & Technology and Public Utilities (MES&T&PU) hosted a ‘Brown Bag Session’ on September 28 at the Jaguar Auditorium, Belmopan.

The session served as an opportunity for the scientists to discuss their experiences and careers in the sciences with students, and faculty.

Dr. Colin Young

Dr. Adebayo Agbejule

Representing the University of Belize on the panel were Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts and Lecturer Shirlene Savery- Enriquez of the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Dr. Cardinal Warde

Dr. Dina Sah

Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts

Mrs. Shirlene Savery - Enriquez

Gone... but will be sadly missed

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