UTech Based Athletes form 21% of the Delegation for Beijing Olympics
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| Athletes from left, Sherika Williams, Aneisha McLaughlin and Nesta Carter at a special brunch meeting held on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at the Technology Innovation Centre, UTech for athletes and their coaches who will participate in the upcoming Olympics. |
A combined group of eleven athletes comprising UTech students and UTech-based MVP Track and Field Club members have been named to the National team that will represent Jamaica in Track and Field at Beijing, China Olympic Games in August. The group of eleven UTech-based athletes represents an impressive 21% of the total of fifty two (52) athletes who make up the national track and field delegation to the Olympics. UTech hosted a special brunch meeting on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at the Technology Innovation Centre for athletes and their coaches who will participate in the upcoming Olympics. The event was sponsored by The Gleaner Company Ltd.
The UTech based athletes are:
Asafa Powell – MVP Track and Field Club
Andre Wellington – First year student, Faculty of Business & Management
Nesta Carter – MVP Track and Field Club, second year student, Faculty of the Built Environment (on academic leave of absence)
Markino Buckley – second year student, Faculty of Health and Applied Science
Herbert McGregor – 2007 School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT) graduate
Michael Frater – MVP Track and Field Club
Shelly-Ann Frater – First year student, Faculty of Health and Applied Science
Sherone Simpson – MVP Track and Field Club and 2007 School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Honours graduate
Sherika Williams – MVP Track and Field Club, second year student Faculty of Education & Liberal Studies (on academic leave of absence)
Brigitte Foster-Hylton – MVP Track and Field Club
Melanie Walker – MVP Track and Field Club
An Education Fund for Athletes
President, Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison,OJ in his welcome congratulated the athletes and their coaches and thanked the Gleaner company for partnering with UTech to sponsor the special meeting. The President said that he was particularly pleased that many of our athletes have proven that it is possible to successfully study and train in Jamaica while achieving world class international success. Olypian Sherone Simpson for example, who was the fastest women in the 100 M and 200 M in 2006 graduated from UTech with an upper second class degree in hospitality and tourism management in 2007. Prof. Morrison said that “if we can offer a more nurturing environment, we can keep our athletes here in Jamaica.” Prof. Morrison disclosed that there are some 280 UTech student athletes pursing various modalities of study. He told the gathering that the University is committed to ensuring that its athletes are given as much support for their academic pursuits as possible, including longer periods of up to five years for completing degree programmes. The President appealed to corporate Jamaica to partner with UTech to establish an education fund for high performance athletes to help with provisions for their academic study, nutritional, medical and other needs.
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| Seated from left, Mr. Anthony Davis, Director of Sport, Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, President, Mr. Bruce James, President MVP Track and Field Club and Mr. Steven Francis, UTech coach, field questions from Gleaner journalists. Seated third left is Mr. Christopher Barnes, Deputy Managing Director, The Gleaner Co. Ltd. |
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| Former 100 M World Record Holder Asafa Powell speaking with journalists from the Gleaner Company (at right). Asafa said that he was now focused on staying healthy and preparing mentally for the Beijing Olympic Games. |
School of Sports Science
The President announced that plans are advanced for the establishment of a School of Sports Science at UTech that will focus on the teaching of the total spectrum of the science and management of sports.
MVP Track and Field Club President, Mr. Bruce James in his remarks, said that for the past nine years his club has proven that Jamaican athletes trained and managed by Jamaican coaches, using Jamaican facilities can take on and lead the world. Mr. James praised UTech for being one of the very few institutions that believed this could be done and was willing to partner with MVP from the very beginning.
Development of UTech Sports Programme
Mr. Anthony Davis, Director of the Department of Sport, UTech, made a presentation on the development initiatives being pursued in Sports at UTech. Mr. Davis told the gathering that the ultimate goal is to have a UTech-based athlete represented in the delegation of every sports team leaving Jamaica. The Sport Director presented a comprehensive slate of specific areas of support needed to develop the sports programme at UTech. He lamented the fact that potential corporate sponsors are often reluctant to come forward to support sports development at UTech because they mistakenly believe that “we already have all we need”. Among the specific areas he appealed for support are the provision of scholarships, facilities upgrade, equipment upgrade and provision of a 50- seater bus for transportation of athletes.
UTech/MVP Coach Steven Francis said that the athletes are now focused on preparing both physically and mentally to take on the world at the Beijing Olympics.
In attendance were Asafa Powell, Sherone Simpson, Nesta Carter, Sherika Williams, assistant MVP Coach, Paul Francis and several executives, journalists and photographers from the Gleaner Company including Mr. Garfield Grandison, Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Christopher Barnes, Deputy Managing Director and Sports Writer Leighton Levy.
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| Olympian Sherone Simpson engage in an animated discussion with her former Dean, Mr. Garth Kiddoe, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management. Sherone graduated in November 2007 with an Upper Second Class Honours degree majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Simpson, a World Championship sprint relay silver medalist and Commonwealth Games 200 m champion, registered personal bests of 10.82 and 22.00 over the distances in 2006 when she was ranked the number one female sprinter. She covered the 100 metres and 200 metres in 10.87 and 22.11 respectively to place third twice at the Jamaica Olympic trials held June 27-29, 2008 at the National Stadium. Sherone said she was not happy with her performance and will be working with her coach on her “weak areas” ahead of the Beijing Olympic games. |
UTech Says Thanks to Sponsors
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| Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, OJ making a point during a special breakfast meeting for current and potential sponsors and donors hosted by UTech on June 26, 2008 at Terra Nova Hotel. |
As part of the activities to mark UTech’s 50th anniversary, the University hosted a special breakfast meeting on Thursday, June 26, 2008 at the Terra Nova Hotel for its current as well as prospective sponsors and donors Over 50 representatives from private sector companies and embassies participated in the breakfast meeting. President, Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, OJ expressed gratitude to the sponsors who have contributed much needed financial aid towards student scholarships and other developmental areas over the years. He appealed to the gathering of business executives to partner with UTech to enable the University to continue to honour its mandate to support national growth and development.
Prof. Morrison noted that the development of the sports programme at UTech in particular, represented one key area in which sponsors can collaborate with the University for mutual benefit. “There is no institution in the world that can boast of having within its walls, world-beaters of the caliber of Asafa Powell, Sherone Simpson and others,” said an obviously proud President. He invited sponsors to join UTech on the journey to developing the potential of more similarly talented world-class athletes.
Partnership for Development
Prof. Rosalea Hamilton, Vice-President, Development delivered a presentation outlining the University’s vision, mission and development initiatives which provided the sponsors with a full picture of the various areas and opportunities for partnership with UTech. Among them, opportunities in
Scholarship/Endowment
Internship/Work Experience
Research Consultancy
Sponsorship of Events
Contribution of Assets
Corporate Naming (e.g. Buildings)
Entrepreneurship
Arts and Culture
Community Service
Sports
Establishment of an Education Technology and Media Laboratory
Establishment of a Language Training Centre
Establishment of a Business Education Model Laboratory
Establishment of a State-of-the-art Faculty Student Services Centre for the Faculty of Business and Management
Applied Research in such areas as renewable energy, information technology, finance and business and alternative building systems.
Prof. Hamilton also announced the imminent establishment of a Faculty of Law which is scheduled to take its first cohort of students in January 2009 and the establishment of a College of Health Sciences with schools in Pharmacy, Nursing Dentistry, Health Science, Optometry, Public Health and the Allied Health Profession.
50th Anniversary Scholarship Fund
Acknowledging the generous contribution of the private sector to the funding of student scholarship and bursaries over the years, Prof. Hamilton unveiled the University’s ambitious objective to procure fifty (50) new scholarships during the institution’s 50th anniversary year. The sponsorship package comprises silver, gold and platinum categories with values of US$ 10,000, US$25,000 and US$ 50,000 respectively.
Among the persons in attendance were Minna Isarel, Lester Spaulding and Ryland Campbell.
UTECH INTRODUCES FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PLAN
In an ongoing effort to assist students in the payment of fees, the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) has introduced a new Flexible Payment Plan.
President, Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, OJ says that the University recognizes that students are finding it increasingly difficult to pay the cost of their tertiary education and as such UTech wants to give its students every available opportunity to be in a position to pay for their education.
The Flexible Payment Plan which comes into effect August 1, 2008 gives students three payment options:
- Payment in full at the beginning of a course of study. This represents the lowest cost to the student. To access this option, fees must be paid in full at the start of each year in the course of study.
- Payment by Semester. With this payment plan, students have the option of making two (2) payments (Semester 1 and Semester 2) or making three (3) payments for the 12 months continuous programmes or four (4) payments for the 18 months continuous programmes. Payments must be made prior to the start of each semester.
- Monthly Payments. This is the most flexible of the plans; however it is the most costly. The first payment will be equivalent to two installments plus one year’s ancillary fees. There after payments are due the 28th of each month. Monthly payment plans are not available for situations where the fee due is less than JA$45,000.
Payment Selection Mode
All students (new and returning) are required to select one of these three payment options online using the University’s E-Vision student system prior to the start of their course of study. Students wishing to change the default pan may do so up to 12 hours before the time they plan to make the first payment. Please note however, that it may take up to 12 hours for the change to register in ISAS depending on how busy the system is.
The first payment locks the student into the selected plan for the academic year. The computer system will automatically administer the plan thereafter.
Payments made at the Accounts Receivable window on campus will normally be reflected on the students’ account within 24 hours.
Payments made other than at the Accounts Receivable window on campus, (e.g. Via the Internet, NCB, Paymaster, etc.) will normally be reflected on the students’ account within two working days.
Students who are sponsored by UTech or have special scholarships or other sponsored fee payment plans are advised to contact the Financial Aid Office for specific details on the arrangements for financial clearance.
Students who are in arrears on December 28 of any year will be deregistered. Students who are on the monthly payment plan and who fall 90 days into arrears at any stage will be automatically “deregistered” and may be ejected from classes or have their exam cards withheld.
Late fees will attract a charge of $1,000 per month
For further information students may contact the Finance and Business Services Division at UTech.
UTech Signs MoU With Jamaican Institute of Management
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| Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, OJ (seated left), President, UTech and Dr. the Hon. Alfred Sangster, OJ, Executive Chairman, Jamaican Institute of Management (JIM) affix their signatures to the Memorandum of Understanding formalizing the intention of both institutions to collaborate for their mutual benefit. Standing are witnesses to the historic signing, Mr. George Roper, Deputy President, UTech and Mrs. Norma Bennett-Heywood, General Manager, JIM. The signing ceremony was held on June 20, 2008 at King’s House. |
The University of Technology, Jamaica sealed another partnership agreement on June 16 to enhance academic excellence and development. The latest partnership was signed with the Jamaican Institute of Management (JIM) at King’s House on June 16, 2008. Speaking at the signing ceremony Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, OJ, President said that the partnership agreements signed by the University in the past year with other tertiary institutions have all been carefully chosen with the objective of maximizing the use of resources, avoid overlaps in academic offerings and for cost-effectiveness. Executive Chairman of JIM, the Hon. Dr. Alfred Sangster said that he looks forward to both institutions working together in a very meaningful way.
Governor General His Excellency the Most Hon. Prof. Sir Kenneth Hall who is also the President of JIM in his address to the audience of Deans, Vice Presidents, and Senior Management staff from UTech and JIM, said that for over four decades, JIM has made a significant contribution not only to the quality of management and administration and consequently to productivity in Jamaica, but also to the quality of leadership. He noted that times have changed and it was now time for JIM to be transformed in such a way as to “meet the new challenges of today”. He expressed confidence that the collaboration with UTech will yield a “first class cadre of managers and leaders in whose hands the future of Jamaica will lie.”
Under the terms of the MOU, UTech and JIM will pursue mutually beneficial relationships to enhance management training and to collaborate on the development of other institutional partnerships.
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| Sharing pleasantries from left, Mr. Eric Frater, Member of UTech’s Council, Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, OJ, President, UTech, Dr. the Hon. Alfred Sangster, OJ, Executive Chairman, JIM, His Excellency the Most Hon. Prof. Sir Kenneth Hall, Governor General and President, JIM and his wife Lady Hall. |
UTech Pharmacy Programme Now Available in the Bahamas
The University of Technology, Jamaica has moved a step further in its continued mandate to widen access to tertiary education, with the signing of a Franchise Agreement between the University and the College of The Bahamas. Under the Agreement which was signed at the College in the Bahamas on June 12, 2008, the four-year UTech Bachelor of Pharmacy programme will be delivered by the College of the Bahamas beginning in September 2008 at the start of the next academic year. Students who have successfully completed the first two years at the College of the Bahamas will complete their degree at the University of Technology, Jamaica.
Participating in the signing of the Franchise Agreement above, are Prof. Gossett Oliver, Vice-President, Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship, UTech who represented the President and Dr. Rhonda Chipman-Johnson, Executive Vice President and Vice President, Academic Affairs, College of the Bahamas. Standing from left are Dr. Janet Campbell-Shelly, Senior Lecturer/Programme Director for Pharmacy, UTech, Mrs. Bridgett Hogg, Chair, School of Science & Technology, College of the Bahamas, Dr. Eugenie Brown-Myrie, Dean, Faculty of Health and Applied Science, UTech and Dr. Bridgette Rolle, Ministry of Health, Bahamas.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof. Gossett Oliver congratulated the College of Bahamas on celebrating 31 years as an institution, adding that it was very significant for the College and UTech to be sharing resources in this way given the expense of the delivery of the Pharmacy degree programme and the high demand for pharmacists in the Region. Prof. Oliver noted that Pharmacy represented a professionally driven flagship programme at UTech and is well accredited. He said that “graduates will be part of a programme that is well recognized around the world.”
Dr. Rhonda-Johnson told the gathering that the UTech Pharmacy programme at the College of the Bahamas will augment the College’s offerings and the students’ experiences as they study in both the Bahamas and in Jamaica. She said that renovation will be done on two labs to facilitate the delivery of the programme. Approximately 25 students are expected for the first cohort in September 2008.
UTECH STUDENTS’ UNION HOSTS ANNUAL “TEACH THE YOUTH” SUMMER PROGRAMME FOR INNERCITY YOUTH
The University of Technology, Jamaica Students’ Union will launch its 2008 “Teach the Youth” Summer Programme on Sunday, July 13 at 10:00 am on the UTech campus. The “Teach the Youth” summer programme, now in its ninth year, is an initiative of the Students’ Union designed to uplift Jamaica’s inner city youth. The aim of this 4-week programme is to provide educational value whilst encouraging social skills and self-confidence in participants who range in ages eight to seventeen years old. Participants are drawn from targeted communities within the university’s environs which include, August Town, Kintyre, Highlight View and Tavern.
The specific objectives are to empower children in these communities through educational and social interaction; improve integration with these communities by positively impacting the lives of youth; and to encourage and stimulate the UTech student populace to appreciate these communities and develop a desire and an understanding of the importance of serving humanity.
The programme includes Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Science Sex Education, Career Counseling, Leadership, Health and Safety issues, a fun day, etc., and will be delivered by trained professionals from UTech, UTech students, motivational speakers, representatives from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Fire Brigade, Jamaica Defense Force and corporate Jamaica.
Classes will run from July 6 – 31, 2008 at centres identified in each community. Each centre can accommodate up to 75 participants.
The Teach the Youth programme is a major undertaking of the Students’ Union and they have accomplished a great deal since its inception. Former participants have gone on to excel in academics and some have found jobs within their communities. Many participants have also expressed gratitude for having been assisted with their reading, writing and arithmetic skills which improved their performance in these areas in their respective schools.
The programme will culminate with an exhibition and cultural competition between classes highlighting the creative skills of the students. These will be displayed at the closing ceremony.
UTECH SIGNS CONSULTANCY CONTRACT FOR NATIONAL HOUSING POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
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| Participating in the contract signing from left are Mr. Desmond Hall, Lecturer, Faculty of the Built Environment, Dr. Carol Archer, Dean, Faculty of the Built Environment, Prof. the Hon. Errol Morrison, OJ, President, UTech and Dr. Horace Change, Minister, Ministry of Water and Housing. |
The Faculty of the Built Environment, UTech in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), signed a $21.6M contract with the Ministry of Water and Housing to prepare a National Housing Policy and Implementation Plan. The last such Policy and Plan was prepared in 1986.
As set out in the Terms of Reference, the objectives of the consultancy are that the consultant should:
- Conduct a situational analysis of the housing sector, which will inform and lead to the compilation of a concept paper on housing in Jamaica.
- Identify key issues, policy directives and actions that relate to and impact on housing and settlement development in Jamaica and which must be considered in the formulation of the National Housing Policy and supporting Implementation Plan.
- Facilitate all consultation sessions in the:
- Preparation of documentation for review and presentation
- Presentation of the draft/concept paper
- Compilation of comments for inclusion in final document
- Prepare a National Housing Policy and Implementation Plan for Jamaica
The six-month project is led by Mr. Desmond Hall, Urban and Regional Planner in the Faculty of the Built Environment. There are nine other members of the consultancy team.
At the signing ceremony at the Ministry’s offices in New Kingston, President Morrison offered the technical/professional services of the University to the Government of Jamaica. He thanked the ministr for selecting UTech above foreign bidders for the contract which marks an important entry point into working with the Government on other projects.
Minister Chang underscored the importance of the National Housing Policy and Plan and indicated that the Ministry had deliberately sought to have the two universities, UTech and UWI, apply their collective strengths to the problem.
TIC Hosts Panel Discussion on Funding Options for Small Businesses
Submitted by Ivor Bennett, Marketing and Public Relations Officer,
Technology Innovation Centre
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| Mr. Andrew Simpson, Managing Director, Symptai Consulting Group speaking with participants at a special forum for small businesses held on May 14, 2008 at the Technology, Innovation Centre, UTech. |
As part of the initiative to fulfil its mandate of enhancing entrepreneurship in Jamaica, The Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) recently hosted a panel discussion under the theme ‘Small Business Financing: Getting over the hurdle’ on May 14, 2008. The event was aimed at informing entrepreneurs and the general public on funding opportunities available for the Small Business sector and also to provide a platform for the financial sector to get direct feedback from entrepreneurs on their requirements for funding their enterprises.
The panel comprised of representatives from Churches Cooperative Credit Union, Jamaica Trade & Invest, National Commercial Bank, The National Export Import Bank of Jamaica and The Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited. The moderator for the discussion was Mr. Andrew Simpson, Managing Director of Symptai Consulting Group.
The event was highly interactive with the audience posing some very engaging questions. Among the issues that were highlighted during the discussions were the availability of non-collateral lending instruments for the small business sectors such as credit cards and the importance of getting small businesses to adopt international best practices such as proper record keeping.
Entrepreneurs at the forum were also advised to explore non-traditional types of financing for their enterprises such as, when feasible, opting for the rental of big ticket assets as opposed to purchasing equipment & property, joining together in groups and negotiating discounts on bulk purchases, angel funding, venture capitalist and equity funding.
Some of the challenges impacting the financing of small businesses cited at the forum were the unavailability of a credit bureau, to better inform financiers of the credit worthiness of the businesses and the failure rate among small businesses. Both the entrepreneurs and the financiers present agreed to the need for greater partnerships and relationship building. |
