UTech, Jamaica Receives Cisco Donation of Wireless Equipment and Training to Enhance Internet Infrastructure
Professor Colin Gyles, (2nd left) Deputy President, University of Technology, Jamaica accepts one of the ten donated Wireless Access Points devices from Mr. Jan Martinez (centre), Cisco Virtual Sales Account Manager for Jamaica at a special ceremony held at the University’s Papine Campus on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Sharing in the happy occasion (from left) are Mr Garfield Gordon, Senior Systems Engineer, Cisco Caribbean, Mrs. Elmarine Jiminez, Manager, Network & Operating Systems Services, UTech, Jamaica and Mr. Hugh Brown, Senior Director, Technology and Information Management, UTech, Jamaica.
The University of Technology, Jamaica has received a significant boost to its wireless network infrastructure with the Cisco donation of ten (10) new Wireless Access Points with one year technical support valued at $890,000. The equipment was officially presented at a special handing over ceremony held at the University’s Papine Campus on Thursday, February 1, 2018.
Cisco, which is one of the world’s leading ICT supply companies, has also pledged to provide opportunities for training of UTech, Jamaica IT personnel who will receive passes valued at $650,000 to attend the Cisco Live Full Conference in Orlando, Florida from June 10-14, 2018, bringing the total value of the company’s donation to $1,540,000.
In welcoming the valuable donation, Prof. Colin Gyles, Deputy President thanked Cisco for its generosity, noting that “wireless is a necessity in modern life and especially in an academic environment,” where there is the need for fast and immediate access to information. The Deputy President also pointed to the enhanced capacity for online programme delivery that is enabled through new technologies.
Prof. Gyles thanked the UTech, Jamaica IT team led by Mr. Hugh Brown, Senior Director, Technology and Information Management for the continuing efforts to seek funding and support to enhance the wireless capabilities of the University. He further informed the gathering that the University will continue to seek to have Internet access and Wi-Fi hotspots in the areas that are most critical for students.
In his remarks, Mr. Brown reiterated appreciation to Cisco for the kind donation of equipment and opportunities for staff development and training. He noted that the University has had a longstanding, productive partnership with Cisco over the years, with much of the University’s IT infrastructure consisting of Cisco equipment. The company has also contributed to academic development through its Cisco Networking Academy which offers technical certification programmes through the School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT).
Enhanced Wireless Campus Infrastructure
Mr. Brown reported that “significant focus is now being placed on expanding our wireless service on the University’s campuses. The dorms, lecture theatres, Braemar Avenue, Dome Street and Arthur Wint campuses, and the highly demanded Shared Facilities Building are just a few locations where wireless infrastructure has been enhanced,” he said. He also noted that the Cisco donation will enable the network team to install more wireless infrastructure at strategic locations on the campuses.
The Cisco team was represented by Mr Garfield Gordon, Senior Systems Engineer, Cisco Caribbean and Mr. Jan Martinez, Virtual Sales Account Manager for Jamaica. Gordon gave a presentation on opportunities for further partnership with the University through various Cisco technology solutions and products that can be utilized to enhance academic delivery and research in ICT.
Mrs Elmarine Jiminez who chaired the ceremony, appealed to Deans and other members of senior staff to provide feedback on ICT needs and to collaborate in enhancing solutions for the overall experience for students.
End.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm