UTech, Jamaica Welcomes Ambassador of France to Jamaica for Special Visit

(From l-r) Ms. Marion Brown, Vice President and University Registrar, Professor Shermaine Barrett, Dean, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, Mrs. Emma Reillon, Attacheé, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy of France in Jamaica, Dr. Claire Sutherland, Director, Institutional and International Linkages, His Excellency Olivier Guyonvarch, French Ambassador to Jamaica, Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, UTech, Jamaica, Mrs. Manon Goudier, Director, Alliance Française Jamaica and Dr. Haldane Johnson, Acting Deputy President, share a group photo during a courtesy call on Thursday, June 30, 2022.

University of Technology, Jamaica welcomed His Excellency Olivier Guyonvarch, Ambassador of France to Jamaica at a special visit to the Papine Campus on Thursday, June 30, 2022.  Ambassador Guyonvarch, accompanied by Mrs. Emma Reillon, Attacheé - Internship, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy of France in Jamaica and Mrs. Manon Goudier, Director, Alliance Française Jamaica, paid a courtesy on Acting President, Professor Colin Gyles and visited places of interest across the Campus during which the delegation had the opportunity to interact and engage with members of academic and administrative staff and students.

Extending warm welcome to His Excellency Olivier Guyonvarch and his delegation, Professor Gyles noted “We welcome the possibility to explore opportunities to further strengthen the ties between our University and the Embassy of France, and by extension between our two countries.”  During his remarks, the Acting President provided the delegation with a brief presentation, introducing the University, highlighting aspects of the Institution’s history, academic offerings and special accomplishments in research, sports, community service, arts and culture. 

The courtesy call also facilitated discussions of mutual interest on possible areas of collaboration including student exchanges, lectures, cooperative education and French Language education.  The Acting President highlighted recent and on-going collaboration with the Embassy of France, including with the Caribbean School of Architecture, Faculty of The Built Environment, the Technology Innovation Centre and with the College of Business and Management. UTech, Jamaica signed a General Cooperation Agreement with Universite Clermont Auvergne (UCA), France in 2019, which has focus on international business, management, and French Language.

Expressing keen interest in all areas of possible cooperation, Ambassador Guyonvarch thanked Professor Gyles and the leadership team for accommodation of the visit.  Expressing the view that “educators have the most important job…because they are working [to secure] the future,” Ambassador Guyonvarch extended the hand of friendship and invitation for further cooperation in supporting development in both countries, particularly through educational opportunities for students and faculty in both Jamaica and France.

Participating in the courtesy call discussions were Dr. Haldane Johnson, Acting Deputy President, Miss Marion Brown, Vice President and University Registrar, Professor Shermaine Barrett, Dean, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, Dr. Claire Sutherland, Senior Director, International and Institutional Linkages who coordinated the special visit and Mrs. Michelle Beckford, Corporate Communications Manager.

Professor Colin Gyles (right), Acting President, UTech, Jamaica presents His Excellency Olivier Guyonvarch, French Ambassador to Jamaica with a gift at a courtesy call on the Acting President on Thursday, June 30, 2022.

Campus Tour Highlights

Language Teaching and Research Centre 

(Top photo) Dr. Warrick Lattibeaudaire (2nd left), Director, Language Teaching and Research Centre, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, shares something of interest with His Excellency Olivier Guyonvarch and Mrs. Manon Goudier, Director, Alliance Française Jamaica during the delegation’s visit to LTRC. Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President looks on. (Bottom photo) Ambassador Guyonvarch accepts a gift from Professor Shermaine Barrett, Dean, FELS.

Tour of the Caribbean Sculpture Park 

Mr. Phillip Clarke (2nd right), Director, Centre for the Arts, takes the delegation on a tour of the University’s Caribbean Sculpture Park.

Visit to the Sports Facilities 

(Top photo) A gleeful Ambassador Guyonvarch poses with his UTech, Jamaica Knights cap which was gifted to him by Dr. Kamilah Hylton (2nd right), Dean, Faculty of Science and Sport, during his visit to the sports facilities. Joining them are Dr. Donna-Marie Wynter-Adams, Head, Caribbean School of Sport Sciences and Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President. (Bottom photo) Dr. Wynter-Adams also presents UTech, Jamaica branded gifts to delighted Mrs. Manon Goudier(left) and Mrs. Emma Reillon.

Ambassador Guyonvarch is ready to ‘race’ against Dr. Hylton and Professor Gyles. 

At the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management  

(Top photo) Ambassador Guyonvarch (2nd left) interacts with Mrs. Myrtle Weir (centre), Head, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM) and Dr. Andrea Sutherland, Dean, College of Business and Management (COBAM) during a guided tour of the Bakery, SHTM. (Bottom photo) Ambassador Guyonvarch interacts with Hospitality and Tourism Management students inside the culinary lab, SHTM.

 

His Excellency Olivier Guyonvarch is delighted to pose with his gift of a signature Joy Spence 21 year Appleton Estate rum during his visit to the SHTM Hotel at which the team catered a special light fare. Front row, from left, are Ms. Sherona Noble, Lecturer, SHTM, Mrs. Myrtle Weir, Head, SHTM, Professor Colin Gyles, Dr. Andrea Sutherland, Dean, COBAM, Mrs. Manon Goudier, Dr. Claire Sutherland, and Chef Courtney Bailey, Chef Technologist. Second row, from left, are Mr. Khalil Campbell, Programme Director, Culinary Arts, SHTM, Mrs. Rosalee Sawyers, Programme Director, SHTM, Mr. Michael Edwards, Programme Director, Baking Technology, SHTM, and Mr. Richard Warren, Programme Director, Food and Beverage Management.

Tour of Technology Innovation Centre 

 

Mrs. Andrea Bolton-Fyffe, Incubator Manager, Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), leads the delegation on a tour of the TIC.

With the Faculty of The Built Environment 

Members of the Faculty of The Built Environment (FOBE) warmly welcome His Excellency Olivier Guyonvarch (centre). (l-r) Architect Jacquian Lawton, Head, CSA, Mrs. Manon Goudier, Professor Colin Gyles, Dr. Elizabeth Pigou-Dennis, Vice Dean, Dr. Anetheo Jackson, Head, School of Building and Land Management and Dr. Garfield Young, Dean, FOBE.

On his stop at the Faculty of The Built Environment (FOBE), Ambassador Guyonvarch was gifted with a copy of ‘Architecture, An Inspiration’ by Ivor Smith by Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President. Sharing in the occasion are Architect Jacquian Lawton (left), Head, Caribbean School of Architecture (CSA) and Dr. Garfield Young, Dean, FOBE.

 End.

Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 876 970-5299 
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm