Growth & Jobs | Young Scholars shaping skills in coding, robotics and virtual reality
Published:Tuesday | November 4, 2025 | 12:07 AM
YOUNG PEOPLE are among the most active users and creators of online content, yet they are often under represented in most decision-making spaces. Young Scholars Education Limited is actively promoting the development and adoption of youth-protective digital platforms by partnering with technology developers, educators, and policymakers.
Shanese Watson, managing director of Young Scholars Education Limited said this awareness fosters digital literacy, creativity, and preparedness for careers in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and digital entrepreneurship.
“By understanding these trends early, young people can become active shapers of digital transformation, rather than passive users. This focus also ensures that national and institutional policies are responsive to youth realities in a rapidly evolving digital landscape,” Watson said.
Since 2022 Young Scholars Education Limited has focused on creating a summer camp that enables young people to advance their skills in coding robotics and virtual reality. They have used various platforms including a digital literacy webinar in 2023, where they showcased these digital trends and ensured conversations were had about policies that are responsive to youth realities in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
“As the use of digital technologies increase, our mission is to be strong advocates for laws that must protect children’s privacy and safeguard against exploitation, while education empowers them to use technology responsibly and confidently,” Watson said.
Integrating these elements, she said, ensures a balanced approach where access to technology brings empowerment, not harm. “Without these supports, digital progress risks deepening inequality and exposing youth to online vulnerabilities,” Watson said.
Recently, Young Scholars Limited, hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security and the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica, that brought together government, academia, and youth stakeholders to address digital safety and innovation.
This partnership Watson said, was significant because it involved both entities providing cyber policy insights, while contributing research and youth engagement expertise. Together, she said they created a platform for multi-sectoral dialogue, highlighting the importance of coordinated action to protect and empower youth in digital space.
“We looked at cybersecurity practices, hacking demos and cybersecurity career opportunities. There was also key information relating to data science and data security and how these key areas can combat cyberattacks. Conversations were also engaged around the vulnerabilities of cybersecurity, including password sharing, images and other confidential information that may be harmful,” Watson said.
The organisation plans to actively promote the development and adoption of youth-protective digital platforms by partnering with technology developers, educators, and policymakers.
In November 2025, that is also celebrated as Youth Month, the organisation will also host a cybersecurity webinar with key stakeholders in the cybersecurity space including UTech, the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, and the Ministry of National Security.
The webinar will focus on advocacy for youth-protective software and safe platforms. Some of the topics to be discussed include youth-friendly digital design standards, ensuring privacy, accessibility, and age-appropriate engagement. Also, collaboration with cybersecurity experts to strengthen safety features and digital resilience.
“This forum will significantly highlight advanced awareness and policy alignment around youth rights in the digital age and how they can be more responsible for their cyber behaviour. There is still more discussion to be had to encourage stakeholders to integrate principles into digital product design, regulation, and online service delivery,” Watson said.
She believes that when digital spaces are safe, inclusive, and empowering, children are free to learn, innovate, and connect without fear.
“Prioritising safety and well-being support long-term human development goals, enabling youth to reach their full potential as digital citizens. Our collective responsibility is to ensure technology becomes a tool for growth, creativity, and equity, not a source of harm or exclusion,” Watson said.
In addition, Akeem Bender, citizens security secretariat at the Ministry of National Security, said leveraging the digital environment is not only vital for advancing children’s rights but also essential for protecting them from the growing range of online threats that can compromise national stability and social cohesion.
“Digital platforms offer tremendous opportunities for education, innovation, and participation, enabling children to learn, connect, and express themselves freely. However, these same spaces can expose them to cybercrime, trafficking, exploitation, radicalisation, misinformation, and online violence (bullying), issues that have direct implications for public safety and child protection,” Bender said.
The Ministry of National Security and Peace therefore he said, recognises the need to strengthen inter-ministerial collaboration with education, youth, and ICT sectors to ensure children benefit safely from digital opportunities.
“By strategically leveraging the digital environment, national security efforts can both protect children from emerging digital threats and empower them as responsible, informed digital citizens; supporting Jamaica’s broader goals of social resilience and national development,” he said.