|
The University of Technology, Jamaica
was founded in 1958 as the Jamaica Institute of Technology but the
name of the institution was changed in 1959 to ‘The College of Arts,
Science and Technology’ (CAST). Its mission was to educate
technical support staff that would be able to assist in the
development of the country. The institution was officially opened
with 56 students, enrolled in the Institutional Management, Building
or Electrical & Mechanical Engineering departments. From its humble
beginnings, the institution has grown to become a major national
institution, offering over 100 different programmes at certificate,
diploma and degree levels, delivered to a student population of over
7,000.
On September 1, 1995, by an Act of
Parliament CAST cited as the University of Technology, Jamaica Act,
the institution (CAST) was accorded its new status. The Department
of Computing and Engineering were merged to form the Faculty of
Engineering and Computing, having two schools viz., the
School of Engineering and the School of Computing and
Information Technology.
Academic offerings are modeled on the
English higher education system, with emphasis on flexibility of
approach, work-based learning and professional linkages. Flexibility
in academic offerings is reflected in the various modes of programme
delivery which include full-time and part-time (day release,
evening) and cooperative work-based programmes. In addition, several
programmes are franchised to selected community colleges and most
programmes are linked to national and international professional
organisations.
Since 1998, the University of
Technology, Jamaica based its structure on the concept of the
programme as the basic academic unit, with the Faculty as
the basic administrative unit. The School of Engineering and the
School of Computing and Information Technology were grouped to form
the Faculty of Engineering and Computing. The Dean and the Head of
School provide administrative management.
Fig. 1 The Organisational Structure
in the Faculty of Engineering & Computing
Each discipline of study is managed by
a Programme Director. He/She is responsible for the overall
development, maintenance, and evaluation of courses in a particular
programme within the Faculty, and generally assists the Head of
School and the Dean in matters of policy and administration. Each
programme level of certification has a Programme Leader who is
responsible for the welfare of the students. The Programme Leader
reports to the Programme Director and is charged with the overall
organization, management and development of the educational needs of
students.
|
