Dr. Kevin Brown (second right), President, University of Technology, Jamaica, and Mrs. Magda Krupa-Hernandez (second left), Director for ACCA’s Europe, Eurasia, Middle East, Americas (EEMA) region, display the signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during the official signing ceremony held on October 23, 2025, at the University’s Papine Campus. The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration in accounting education, professional development, and career advancement for students. Joining them are Mrs. Paula Marcelle-Irish (seated left), Head of ACCA Caribbean, and Mr. Jesus Garcia Santos (seated right), Head of Americas, ACCA. Standing from left are Mrs. Olubusola Akinladejo, Acting Dean of the College of Business and Management, UTech, Ja. Miss Aisha McKenna, Business Partnership Manager, ACCA and Dr. Claire Sutherland, Senior Director, International and Institutional Linkages, UTech, Ja.
The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica) has strengthened its longstanding partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a global professional accounting body, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 23, 2025, at the University’s Papine Campus.
The collaboration between UTech, Jamaica and ACCA was first formalized in 2015 through a Memorandum of Association, establishing a framework for cooperation in areas of mutual benefit. This partnership was further enhanced in 2018 when UTech, Jamaica earned ACCA Exemption Accreditation, enabling graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Accounting programme, offered by the College of Business and Management (COBAM), to receive exemptions from up to nine of ACCA’s fundamentals-level modules. As a result, graduates are required to sit only the professional-level ACCA examinations.
The newly signed MoU seeks to build on this foundation by promoting professional development, enhancing academic offerings, and strengthening career readiness among accounting and finance students. Through this agreement, ACCA will conduct annual information sessions for undergraduate students in Years 1, 2, and 3, and will also sensitize faculty members to the ACCA Accelerate Programme, which allows final-year bachelor’s degree students to register with ACCA before graduation. Students who register through this programme will benefit from discounted initial registration fees and exam exemptions.
Students will also gain access to a wealth of professional insights, webinars, and events focused on taxation, governance, leadership, and ethics, while participating in joint career-building activities hosted by ACCA and UTech, Jamaica. Faculty members will have opportunities for professional growth through participation in tutor development sessions and technical training programmes designed to strengthen their delivery of ACCA-aligned content.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Kevin Brown, President, University of Technology, Jamaica, expressed enthusiasm about the renewed partnership, noting that “we’ve had a longstanding relationship with ACCA, so this MoU continues to enhance what we’re doing.” Dr. Brown added, “We continue to hold the strong position that our students must be work-ready. Although we treasure our degree programmes, we also appreciate the professional certification that we can provide through the ACCA, and the advantages this brings to our students’ future careers.”
Mrs. Olubusola Akinladejo, Acting Dean of the College of Business and Management, echoed President Brown’s sentiments, emphasizing the College’s commitment to making students “work-ready and professionally certified.” She noted that one of the key reasons students choose to pursue the Accounting programme at UTech, Jamaica is because of the ACCA accreditation it offers.
Mrs. Magda Krupa-Hernandez, Director for ACCA’s Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East, and Americas (EEMA) region, expressed interest in learning more about the needs of UTech, Jamaica’s students and staff to better understand how ACCA can continue to support their academic and professional development. She noted that this engagement will help ACCA tailor its initiatives to serve the institution more effectively.
Mrs. Paula Marcelle-Irish, Head of ACCA Caribbean, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting future accounting professionals in Jamaica, stating, “I look forward to strengthening our relationship through the signing of this MoU with UTech, Jamaica, and to engaging in the various areas of collaboration.”
The signing of this MoU represents another important step in UTech, Jamaica’s mission to combine academic excellence with professional experience, ensuring that graduates are equipped with the skills, certification, and global perspective needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
END.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: (876) 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm
