Historic Launch of UTechOpen School of Lifelong Learning and Professional Development
Sharing in a photo at the launch ceremony of the UTechOpen School of Lifelong learning and Professional Development on Thursday, September 5, 2024 held in Lecture Theater 50, Shared Facilities Building, UTech, Ja. Papine Campus (l-r) are Mr. Aldrick McNab, Pro-Chancellor, Ms. Nickeisha Walsh, Executive Director, Students Loan Bureau, Mr. Courtney Campbell, President & CEO of VM Group, Dr. Kevin Brown, President, Dr. Sophia McIntosh, Head, UTechOpen School of Lifelong Learning and Professional Development and Dr. Damian Graham, Programme Leader, MSc Engineering, School of Engineering. UTech, Jamaica.
The University of Technology, Jamaica proudly launched its new UTechOpen: School of Lifelong Learning and Professional Development on Thursday, September 5, 2024. The ceremony took place in Lecture Theatre 50, Shared Facilities Building, at the UTech, Jamaica’s Papine Campus under the theme, “Developing People, Developing Communities, Developing a Nation.”
UTechOpen will serve as the University's dedicated center for pre-university, lifelong learning, and professional development programmes through pre-university STEM courses, executive education, leadership training and a variety of short courses. In alignment with the Government of Jamaica's goal to widen educational pathways, UTechOpen is poised to expand access to higher education, catering to a diverse range of learners and reinforcing the University’s commitment to fostering growth at both individual and community levels.
The newly rebranded UTechOpen: School of Lifelong Learning and Professional Development builds on the legacy of UTech Academy, specialized in increasing access to education and providing nontraditional certification options to help students enter colleges and faculties. This expanded initiative now comprises four branches: UTech Academy, UTech Executive Education, Professional Studies and a Tech Skills Programme with the aim to empower individuals through diverse learning opportunities.
Reflect, Re- imagine, Reset
Dr. Kevin Brown, President, University of Technology, Jamaica delivers his address at the launch ceremony of the UTechOpen School of Lifelong learning and Professional Development on Thursday, September 5, 2024 held in Lecture Theater 50, Shared Facilities Building, UTech, Ja. Papine Campus.
Dr. Kevin Brown, President of the University of Technology, Jamaica, expressed immense pride in the launch of the university's new school, describing it as a historic milestone with a forward-thinking vision. He contextualized UTechOpen within the framework of his RESET transformational model, which aims to make the institution more research-driven, expand access, adopt a student-centered approach, emphasize entrepreneurial endeavours, and be Technology focused.
He highlighted the importance of upskilling and lifelong learning, underscoring that UTechOpen will champion these values. He expressed, “today we are launching a school with a wider, more contemporary remit, a scope that’s relevant to not just Jamaica but where the world is going in respect to workforce development.”
Reflecting on UTech, Jamaica's evolution from its origins as the Jamaica Institute of Technology, Dr. Brown reiterated the institution's status as Jamaica's premier national STEM university. He commended UTech, Jamaica for its consistent track record of producing work ready graduates and its commitment to tailoring programmes across all eight faculties and colleges to meet industry demands.
UTechOpen aligns with the national development goals of Jamaica by widening educational pathways
Dr. Kevin Brown, President, University of Technology, Jamaica presents The Hon. Fayval Williams, MP, Minister of Education and Youth with a token of appreciation for her continued support of the institution's educational initiatives during the launch ceremony.
The Hon. Fayval Williams, MP, Minister of Education and Youth, in bringing greetings at the launch of UTechOpen, described the occasion as “special and historic,” highlighting the significant impact the school will have on students who enroll.
Minister Williams commended President Brown and the team at UTech, Ja. for their “insightful, intuitive, and visionary” approach, recognizing their efforts to not only develop the institution, but Jamaica as a whole. She emphasized that this launch marks the beginning of a “transformative journey,” symbolizing the commitment to continuous personal and professional growth and the power of lifelong learning. She noted that the creation of UTechOpen, “symbolizes the future where learning never ceases, where every challenge is an opportunity and where every individual is empowered to reach their fullest potential” in a rapidly changing world.
Minister Williams further commended UTechOpen’s mission to broaden access to higher education for a diverse range of learners, noting that it “aligns perfectly with the Government of Jamaica’s goal to widen educational pathways” while noting, “the focus of UTechOpen on STEM courses is commendable as STEM education is recognized as a transformative tool in shaping and preparing for the competitive workforce capable of driving economic growth and addressing societal challenges.”
Mr. Mark Golding, MP, Leader of the Opposition, in his remarks, emphasized the importance of forward-thinking and innovation. He described the initiative as a “new vision” tailored to meet the evolving needs of Jamaicans and Jamaica's developmental goals and commended the institution for its adaptability and relevance in addressing future challenges.
He highlighted the necessity of staying ahead of the curve, stating, “in order to survive and thrive, you have to be looking ahead, you have to stay ahead of the curve, you have to be forward thinking and you have to be innovative.”
Mr. Golding also stressed the importance of continuous learning and skill acquisition, noting that while the specifics of what is required may change, the fundamental need for education and knowledge will persist. He praised the creation of UTechOpen, as an accessible portal that ensures the institution remains relevant to society's needs and encouraged the formation of partnerships with stakeholders, including the private sector, to enhance the impact and effectiveness of the new school.
Ambassador Dr. Rocky Meade, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, expressed his enthusiasm in seeing the advancements in education at UTech, Jamaica, highlighting the critical role of digitalization in preparing individuals to thrive in a digital environment. He emphasized the necessity of acquiring knowledge that contributes to human progress, underscoring the significance of STEM education. Commending the initiative, he stated that the launch of UTechOpen recognizes the importance of STEM, the need to ensure no one is left behind, and the importance of creating pathways for all learners using diverse modalities.”
Increasing Access
Dr. Sophia McIntosh, Head, UTechOpen School of Lifelong Learning and Professional Development at UTech, Jamaica in her presentation, underscored the urgent need for lifelong learning. She noted that UTechOpen is dedicated to offering innovative and expanded access to education for students both locally and globally. Its mission extends to addressing the training and developmental needs of businesses and organizations.
Dr. McIntosh highlighted that UTechOpen’s strategic direction is in harmony with UTech, Jamaica’s broader objectives to enhance educational access and support national growth. The school is committed to strengthening partnerships with both private and public sectors to deliver impactful short courses in lifelong learning and professional development.
Empowering Innovation Through Openness
Keynote speaker, Mr. Courtney Campbell, President & CEO of VM Group, described the school as, “a major initiative that should be celebrated in every business place and in every home in Jamaica” as he stressed the importance of lifelong learning and equipping our workforce with the right skills to achieve Jamaica’s Vision 2030 goals.
In a world increasingly driven by technology, Mr. Campbell stressed the need to adapt not just by imitating established best practices but by finding what fits best for the unique context. He explained that as the demand for skills evolves rapidly, proactive planning for continuous upskilling and reskilling is essential, “to be more adaptive and flexible, more digital, more embedded with work and to build towards re-learning cultures everywhere.”
Advocating for a transformation in education to foster lifelong learning, linking education with the workforce to create a competitive edge for Jamaica, Mr. Campbell argued that this, not only enhances workforce capability but also attracts businesses to invest in the country.
Mr. Campbell underscored the necessity of developing critical digital skills to enable Jamaicans to thrive in a digital landscape. In this context, he celebrated the establishment of UTechOpen which will, “address some of the key skills gap that we need to catch up with the leaders of the race to the future.”
To advance this agenda, he proposed five key strategies:
- Education and Learning 4.0: Aligning education with the evolving demands of work to ensure skills remain relevant and current.
- Educating Business Leaders: Helping them recognize the value of ongoing learning and training.
- Advancing New Educational Models: Creating innovative approaches to learning.
- Building leadership capabilities: Fostering effective teams and driving organizational success.
- Partnerships with UTechOpen: Encouraging employers to collaborate to “develop agile learning organizations.”
Supporting students’ educational journey
As a proud graduate of UTech, Jamaica and a beneficiary of the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB), Ms. Nickeisha Walsh, Executive Director, SLB, shared her organization's firm belief in the power of higher education and its commitment to “developing the youth for the future.”
Ms. Walsh highlighted several key SLB loan products designed to support students as she emphasized the organization’s desire, “to make access affordable and ensure students have opportunities.”
In its commitment to lifelong learning, the SLB has partnered with the Ministry of Finance to provide up to 2.5 billion dollars in funding for individuals enrolled in STEM programmes at the University of Technology, Jamaica. The SLB is also revamping its products to better meet today’s needs and to continue “bridging the gap between dreams and reality.”
The evening saw several past students sharing their experiences and testimonials about pursuing courses at UTech Academy, highlighting the crucial role of the supportive staff in their academic journey.
Watch the launch ceremony of UTechOpen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfftflZ-K94&t=4414s
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Contact:
Michelle A. Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
Corporate Communications Unit
Advancement Division
University of Technology, Jamaica
237 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6, Jamaica
Tel: (876) 970-5299; 927-1680-8 Ext. 2299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm