KINGSTON, Jamaica — More than 8,000 miles from home, Chrision McPherson and Shamar Brown are honing their hospitality skills while gaining firsthand exposure to a new culture.

The HEART College of Hospitality Services trainees are among four Jamaicans currently participating in the 2026 Global Skills Academy (GSA) POCY Group Scholarships Programme in Hebei, People’s Republic of China.

The 90-day, fully funded international skills training programme, delivered through a partnership between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Global Skills Academy and China POCY Group, commenced on June 27 and will conclude on September 28.