More than 8,000 miles from home, Chrision McPherson and Shamar Brown are sharpening their hospitality skills while gaining first-hand exposure to a new culture and global industry practices.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 programme, delivered through a partnership between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Skills Academy and China POCY Group, began on June 27 and concludes on September 28.For the HEART College, the scholarship programme marks a significant milestone.Director/principal of the HEART College of Hospitality Services, Dr Janet Dyer, says the trainees were nominated because of their commitment to excellence and the potential demonstrated through their training and work experience.They were formally endorsed by the UNEVOC (UNESCO Vocational Education) Centre in Jamaica and subsequently selected through a competitive process that attracted candidates from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.“Chrision [McPherson] has been an intern with us at our front desk, so she has experience as a guest service agent. She is also our reigning gold-medal winner in Front Office Operations at WorldSkills. She works with us at the front desk at the Cardiff Hotel and Spa in Runaway Bay, St Ann. I’m looking forward to integrating her into the training process. She’s coming back with some level of conversational Mandarin. I heard her online introducing herself and speaking to a group in Mandarin, so I know that learning is taking place,” Dr Dyer said.She adds that the college has high expectations for Shamar Brown, who she describes as a well-rounded trainee with the potential to return and serve as a hospitality lab technician.Dr.Dyer notes that this is the first time the college has had trainees participating in a training programme in China, and expresses hope that many more students will benefit from similar international opportunities in the future.McPherson shares that earning the scholarship was a defining moment in her life.“I was genuinely overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement. Being selected as one of only four scholarship recipients was both humbling and affirming. It reminded me that hard work, perseverance and faith truly pay off. I saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow academically, professionally and personally while representing Jamaica on an international stage,” she says. McPherson says she is eager to strengthen her technical knowledge, gain hands-on experience, and deepen her understanding of emerging technologies and industry best practices.Beyond the technical training, she hopes to strengthen her problem-solving skills, enhance her ability to work effectively in teams, and improve her intercultural communication and adaptability. She also looks forward to learning from experienced industry professionals and fellow scholars from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds around the world.“I am most excited about experiencing China’s culture first-hand while learning at one of the world’s leading centres for innovation and technology. I look forward to visiting companies and industrial sites, interacting with local communities, improving my understanding of Chinese culture and language, and seeing how technological advancements are applied in everyday life,” McPherson says.Upon her return to Jamaica, she intends to apply the knowledge and practical skills gained through the programme to drive greater efficiency, innovation and service excellence within the hospitality and tourism sector.Like McPherson, Brown says he was excited, grateful and humbled when he learned that he had been selected for the scholarship.“Being selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean was an honour and a proud moment for me,” he shares.Brown says he is eager to develop practical expertise in modern hotel operations, customer service, hospitality technology and sustainable tourism practices.“I also look forward to learning about China’s innovative approaches to hospitality management, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving. These skills will strengthen my ability to deliver exceptional guest experiences and prepare me for future leadership roles within the industry,” he says.When he returns to Jamaica, he plans to apply the knowledge and hands-on experience gained through the programme to enhance service quality and drive innovation within the hospitality and tourism industry.He adds that his commitment to sharing knowledge will begin at the Cardiff Hotel and Spa, where his passion for hospitality first took root.“In the long term, I aspire to take on leadership roles where I can mentor others, promote excellence in hospitality, and help strengthen Jamaica’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination,” Brown says.JIS