Voices Magazine-Issue

Volume 2, Issue 6 February 2018 University of Technology, Jamaica T he University of Technology, Jamaica on Thursday, December 14, 2017 officially opened its Shared Facilities Building at a special ceremony held at the new facilities located on the Papine Campus. The Shared Facilities Building which was commissioned into use at the start of the current Academic Year, is one of the major infrastructural outcomes of the UTech, Jamaica Enhancement Project. President, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, CD, in his welcome explained that “the UTech Enhancement Project commenced in 2007 when the Government of Jamaica signed a loan agreement with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for a loan of US$25.87 million to fund the development project at the University. The government undertook this investment as a grant to UTech, Jamaica to which the University provided counterpart funding of US$16.78 million to cover the life of the project.” The UTech Enhancement Project proceeded under the three main components of Institutional Strengthening, Building and Civil Works, and Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment. State-of the-art Facilities The Shared Facilities Building is a shared learning and teaching space for all colleges and faculties. It comprises 20 SMART classrooms, three state- of-the-art lecture theatres, computer laboratories, sanitary conveniences and an amphitheatre. Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (1st left) cuts the ribbon marking the official opening of the Shared Facilities Building at the University of Technology, Jamaica Papine Campus on Thursday, December 14, 2017. Looking on are Chancellor, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, ON, PC (forefront, 1st left), Mrs. Genefa Hibbert (right), Acting Chief Operations and Projects Officer, UTech, Ja. and (back row l-r) Prof. Stephen Vasciannie, CD, President, UTech, Dr Wayne Henry, Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica and Stephen Lawrence, Operations Officer, Caribbean Development Bank. A section of the large gathering at the Opening Ceremony. New Shared Facilities Building Officially Opened Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica Cont’d on page 3