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University of Technology, Jamaica
• ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015
It has been a
great privilege to
join the short list
of distinguished
Jamaicans who have
served as President
of this outstanding
institution.
The
Un i ve r s i t y
o f
T e c h n o l o g y ,
Jamaica, occupies
a special place in
the consciousness
of generations of
our people, at home
and abroad. Added
to the more than 12,000 now taking advantage of the
university’s current and varied offerings, are the over
50,000 CAST/UTech alumni scattered across the
globe, making their mark and carrying the hope that
those of us here at home will continue to safeguard
the institution’s great past and ensure an equally great
future. I am confident that their hopes are well placed.
As the chief steward of the institution since June of this
reporting period, I can of course confirm that there have
been, and will continue to be significant challenges.
Because of our status as a major public institution
we have attracted a great deal of public attention and
media interest, and that is as it should be in a robust
democracy.
While we work assiduously to overcome challenges
and resolve difficulties, I can report that we continue
to put in the effort necessary to sustain the forward
march as a world class institution of higher learning
for the prosperity of Jamaica. When I came to
UTech, among the first things that resonated with me
was the University’s strong Core Values: Respect,
Accountability, Integrity, Service, Excellence,
Innovation, Team spirit. I have insisted on using these
Core Values as the framework and guiding principles of
the forward march.
UTech, Jamaica continues to record improvement in
our academic offerings; strides are being made in our
research initiatives, and encouraging progress continues
in the community service and development thrust, as
well as in our cultural programmes, and notably also, in
sports. These accomplishments, some of which are
highlighted in these pages, have been achieved with
relatively limited resources. Among these several local
and international institutional collaborations to advance
teaching, learning, research and service have been
forged. Among them:-
New academic programmes, including the Bachelor
of Science in Pharmaceutics and the Post Graduate
Diploma in Dietetics and Nutrition have come on stream
to meet local and regional labour market needs.
The University presented the first Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD) degree in Career and Technical Education and
several first cohorts successfully completed their
courses of study and were presented at the 2014
Graduation ceremony. These included the Bachelor
of Science in Mathematics and Education, Bachelor
of Science degrees in Sport Sciences, Occupational
Health and Safety, Dental Laboratory Technology,
Entrepreneurship and the Post Registered Nurse
Completion course through franchise arrangements
with the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community
College (SVGCC).
In sports, our student athletes continue to shine at
local meets and on the international stage continuing to
dominate at the annual Penn Relays, for example.
Under the UTech, Jamaica/IDB/Government of
Jamaica Enhancement Project, major upgrading of the
physical plant continues and has been matched by the
steady upgrading of Faculty qualifications and teaching
resources, coupled with the unrelenting process of
accreditation and reaccreditation of our courses of
study.
In the area of service and outreach, the successful
University-wide “UTech Cares” initiative , supported
ACTING PRESIDENT’S OVERVIEW