COBEC Winter Conference 2026

Café Workshop

University of Belize, Conference Centre, Belmopan Campus
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

COBEC College Fair

University of Belize – UB Gymnasium, Belmopan Campus
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Registration and light breakfast

8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Opening Ceremony
Master of Ceremonies:
Mr. Egbert Irving, Director of Institutional Advancement, University of Belize

National Anthems:

• USA: “The Star-Spangled Banner”
• Belize: “Land of the Free”

Invocation:
Pastor Kenion Gill, Church of Christ

Welcome:
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State, Ministry of Economic Transformation

Remarks by COBEC Co-Chairs:

• Dr. Vincent Palacio (Belize)
• Dr. Steven Guns (USA)

Guest Speaker:
Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Senior Minister of State, Office of the Prime Minister (TBC)

Closing:
Mr. Roy Polonio, Campus Administrator, University of Belize, Toledo

9:45 a.m.– 10:00 a.m.

Theme: Human Rights in Education
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jay Coombs, Human Rights Advisor – Belize Office of the United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights (OHCHR)
Title of Presentation: Human Rights in Higher Education: Rights, Realities & Responsibilities

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Question and Answer Session Based on the Keynote Speaker’s Presentation
Moderator: Ms. Abbie Godoy, Project Coordinator, UB-EU Human Rights Project

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

BREAK

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Panel Presentation: Understanding Human Rights in the Context of Higher Education
Keynote Speaker: Justice Antoinette Moore, Judge, Criminal Division, Supreme Court, Belize

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Question and Answer Session Based on Panel Presentation
Moderator: Dr. Sharmaine Saunders, UWI Global Campus

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Theme: Gender Issues in Tertiary Education
Keynote Speaker: Hon. Janelle Chanona, Senator of Non-governmental Organisations
Title of Presentation: Gender Equity in Access to Leadership and Education

11:15 a.m. – 11:45 p.m.

Question and Answer Session Based on the Keynote Speaker’s Presentation
Reflection on the Morning’s Events
Moderator: Dr. Joyanne De Four-Babb, Research Director, University of Belize

12:00 noon – 1:15 p.m.

Networking Lunch

1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Introduction of the Afternoon’s Sessions

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Panel Presentation on the Theme: Creating Gender-Inclusive Campuses
Panelist: Dr. Angela Flowers, Chair of the Social Work Department, Faculty
of Health Sciences
Panelist: Dr. Kristcha DeGuerre, MSW Program Coordinator, Mental Health
Counselor, and Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology.

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Question and Answer Session Based on Presentation
Moderator: Dr. Wes Hickley, Retired, UT. Tyler

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Panel Presentation on the Theme: Indigenous Rights & Inclusion
Panelist: Mr. Delmer Tzib, History Lecturer and Coordinator of the Intercultural Indigenous
Language Institute, University of Belize
Panelist: Dr. Filiberto Penados, Associate Professor of Critical Development and
Indigenous Studies, Galen University

3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Question and Answer Session Based on Panel Presentation
Moderator: Mrs. Marie Young, Dean, Independence Junior College

3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Reflection on the Day’s Events
Partnership & Collaboration

Cocktail Reception

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Registration and light breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

COBEC Standing Committee Meetings

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Business Meeting Agenda
⮚ Welcome and Greetings
⮚ Meeting Call to Order
⮚ Acceptance of Agenda
⮚ Confirmation of Minutes
⮚ Reports by Officers: Secretary, Treasurer
⮚ Matters Arising
⮚ Emeritus Nominations
⮚ Membership Application

Any other Business
⮚ Venue for next COBEC Conference: Summer 2026

Adjournment of Business Meeting

11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Lunch and Field Trip
Snake Caye - Packed Lunch and Tour

Scan the QR Code to pay online

Fee:
USD $150.00 - US COBEC members
BZD $300.00 - BZ COBEC members