UTech, Jamaica, in Partnership with University of Birmingham, UK Hosts Symposium on Railway Engineering
…Universities Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Collaborate on Jamaican Railway Rehabilitation
The Honourable Audley Shaw (centre), Minister of Transport and Mining joins Professor Colin Gyles (left), Acting President, University of Technology, Jamaica, and Professor Clive Roberts, Head, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, as they display copies of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two Universities to collaborate on research, training and technology innovation in support of efforts to rehabilitate and revitalise the railway industry in Jamaica. The MoU was signed at the opening ceremony of a two-day Symposium on Railway Engineering hosted by both Universities at the UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus April 13 - 14, 2022.
University of Technology, Jamaica in collaboration with University of Birmingham, UK, hosted a symposium on Railway Engineering, on Wednesday, April 13 and Thursday, April 14, 2022, at the University’s Papine Campus, bringing together experts in the engineering field to discuss the future of rail in Jamaica, and to explore opportunities for collaboration in research, training and capacity building in the railway industry.
Local, regional and international experts, and representatives of the Jamaican Government, explored topics including technological developments and future railway capabilities, the national transportation network agenda, future solutions for Jamaican railways and the institutional approach to research, training and development of industry engineering talent in Jamaica. The Universities also formalised their collaboration on research, training and innovation in support of revitalising the Jamaican railway industry through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Symposium’s opening ceremony.
Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, UTech, Jamaica, in his welcome at the opening ceremony, noted that the symposium marks “a significant moment in Jamaica’s national development with respect to advancement in modern railway engineering technology and progress in expansion of transportation.” He underscored that the University of Technology, Jamaica is proud to be a part of the partnership that will “positively impact capacity building in support of research, knowledge transfer and competency in modern railway technology.” Pointing to UTech, Jamaica’s 64-year history at the forefront of engineering education in Jamaica, the Acting President highlighted the invaluable and innovative contribution of the Institution’s graduates to various local, regional and international engineering projects.
Professor Gyles, in expressing gratitude to partners University of Birmingham, outlined that the “win-win” partnership would redound to the benefit of students by providing opportunities for hands-on and practical training in railway and rail innovation, and as a means of “giving back through volunteer service in support of community and heritage related rail rehabilitation efforts.” Professor Gyles also had high commendation for Mr. Oneil Josephs, Head, School of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computing and Mr. Paulton Gordon, Director, Community Service and Development, for their efforts in solidifying the partnership.
In his remarks, The Honourable Audley Shaw, Minister of Transport and Mining, lamented that “it is a terrible disappointment” that the railway industry that is growing internationally, with new advancements and technology in the efficient movement of people and cargo, has been closed for thirty years in Jamaica. Indicating that Jamaica was one of the first in the Western hemisphere, in 1845, to implement railway transportation, particularly in the bauxite and sugar industries, Minister Shaw expressed that that the closure of the Jamaica rail for so long, “is unacceptable.”
Pointing to the Government’s plan for a tourism line from Montego Bay to the Appleton Estate, the Honourable Minister gave his commitment that the revitalisation of the railroad will be actualised. He congratulated the University of Technology, Jamaica for being a catalyst in the revitalisation of rail, and praised the Institution’s collaboration with the University of Birmingham in support of this endeavour. “You have come at a time when the revitalisation of our railway is a very vital part of the improvement of our transportation system,” he expressed, adding that “in order for a country to maximize on productivity and economic activity, people and goods must be able to move in an affordable way.”
Senator the Honourable Leslie Campbell, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, who also brought remarks, commended UTech, Jamaica and University of Birmingham on “recognising the intrinsic value of Jamaica’s railway infrastructure to Jamaica’s national development,” adding that “this activity exemplifies what we can achieve through partnership.”
He also congratulated stakeholders for “this inspired example of public-private partnership involving as it does, the Jamaican private sector, members of academia, members of the Diaspora, the Jamaican public and Ministries, Departments and Agencies.” The Honourable Senator also announced the staging of the Jamaica 60 Diaspora Conference, to be held in June, which he noted will provide “an ideal opportunity to further this type of dialogue among participants.”
Professor Clive Roberts, Head, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, in a presentation titled What Has the Railway Ever Done for Us?, outlined the significant benefits of establishing and sustaining the rail industry. Among these benefits are the railway’s ability to provide a low carbon means of travel, create skilled jobs, reduce the number of cars and trucks on the road, regenerate city areas, connect rural communities, and increase land value and desirability. “And they will, despite us moving into a world of autonomous cars, continue to provide the backbone of a future integrated transport system,” Professor Roberts expressed.
Dr. Kevin Brown, Chair, Global Jamaica Diaspora Council Partnership Working Group, in his presentation, outlined the Social Intervention Community Rail Project, which will be the initial beneficiary of research, technical knowledge and expertise coming out of the collaboration between UTech, Jamaica and University of Birmingham. The project is being executed by steering committee Friends of the Jamaica National Railway, led by Mr. Neil Howard, a retired British railwayman and Dr. Brown.
Dr. Brown outlined that the project’s immediate objective is to restore the “Culture Yard” line by rehabilitating the railway station and the trains of the downtown Kingston terminus and building a railway station at Culture Yard, in Trench Town, by 2023. “Culture Yard is a well-established cultural attraction. The train will enhance Culture Yard and become part of the tourism ecosystem,” Dr. Brown noted, adding that “we hope to see a lot of economic and social development in that locale as a result.” More broadly, the group aims to “help fund the restoration of railways in Jamaica for social intervention and community development, support and promote research and educational railway projects in Jamaica and support the preservation and promotion of rail history in Jamaica through museums and other educational outlets.”
Mr. Oneil Josephs, Head, School of Engineering, UTech, Jamaica noted that the University has made significant contribution in research in the areas of Civil, Industrial, Chemical, Electrical and Mechanical engineering, all of which form the basis of the School of Engineering’s Bachelor of Engineering courses of study. He underscored the importance of quality engineering education, noting that “it has been established that engineering, manufacturing, the value-added industry is at the heart of development and economic growth.”
He expressed further that “there is a broad need to provide capacity strengthening in terms of knowledge and technology transfer, but also in the provision of hardware and software,” a requirement that the University has moved to fulfil with the “innovative partnership” between itself, Government agencies and the University of Birmingham. “It shows that we are not passive when it comes to development in our country,” he asserted, adding his commendation to the stakeholders for joining the collaboration on such a broad reaching and impactful endeavour.
Mr. Paulton Gordon, Director, Community Service and Development, a key stakeholder in bringing the collaboration to fruition, noted that the Department of Community Service and Development, will further integrate other Colleges and Faculties in efforts to create a platform for students to hone their skills, as the various partners coalesce around the long overdue efforts to revive the rail industry. The Social Intervention Community Rail Project, which will be executed through assistance from volunteers, will be open to University students who wish to complete the Community Service requirements of their courses of study, Mr Gordon noted.
(L-r) Senator the Honourable Leslie Campbell, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kevin Brown, Chair, Global Jamaica Diaspora Council Partnership Working Group, Mr. Paulton Gordon, Director, Community Service and Development, Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, UTech, Jamaica, The Honourable Audley Shaw, Minister of Transport and Mining, Professor Clive Roberts, Head, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, Mr. Oneil Josephs, Head, School of Engineering, UTech, Jamaica, Dr. Marcelo Blumenfeld, Associate Professor of Transport Systems, University of Birmingham and Dr. Robin Coombes, Director, Heritage Rail Knowledge Network, and Research Fellow, University of Birmingham take the time for a photo op following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding formalising the collaboration between the Universities on research, training and technology innovation in support of efforts to rehabilitate the Jamaican railway industry on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at the Symposium on Railway Engineering at the University’s Papine Campus.
Click this link to watch the Symposium on Railway Engineering on UTech, Jamaica’s official YouTube channel.
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Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 876 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm