Caribbean Procurement Training and Consultancy Centre at UTech, Jamaica Certified as CIPS Examination Centre

Consultancy Meeting: Mrs. Paula Steele, (left) Global Public Sector Manager, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) in a consultation meeting held on Tuesday, January 3, 2018 at the Papine Campus with University of Technology, Jamaica stakeholders of the Caribbean Regional Procurement Training Centre. Seated are, from 2^nd left, Mr. Nigel Cooper, Consultant/Lecturer, College of Business and Management, (COBAM), Mrs. Paulette Groves-Robinson, Assistant Registrar, Examinations, Consultants, Mrs. Rosalee Sawyers, Lecturer, COBAM, Mr. Lloyd Wint, Lecturer, COBAM and Team Lead, Dr. Carlys Cadogan, Lecturer, COBAM.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in collaboration with the World Bank (WB), embarked on a mission in 2015 to establish the first permanent centre for procurement excellence in the Caribbean region. The University of Technology, Jamaica, was selected by CDB/WB under this 28 month project, (January 2016 to July 2018) to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of a regional, Caribbean Procurement Training and Consultancy Centre (CPTCC).  The vision of the CPTCC is to be the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for procurement in the Caribbean Region. The university was assisted by a joint venture, consisting of BiP Solutions Limited (BiPS) and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).  

BiPS provided the relevant consultancy inputs to assist in the development of  the CPTCC and its curriculum. CIPS provide the required qualification standards so much of the training will be accredited. CIPS is the premier global organisation serving the procurement and supply profession. Dedicated to promoting best practice, CIPS offers a comprehensive suite of competency based qualifications to enhance organisational and individual procurement performance and has a global community of almost 110,000 people in over 100 countries.

Commercial Pillars

The CPTCC will adopt a progressive role built upon three key commercial pillars. These three pillars will each contain their own subset of products and offerings, each chosen for its ability to improve procurement practices, within the region, and generate solid growth for the CPTCC and regional procurement expertise.  These pillars are: education and training, research and scholarships, and advisory and consultancy services.

As part of the feasibility study a pilot programme to train Jamaican participants at CIPS Level 4 (Diploma in Procurement and Supply) is now underway with 20 individuals from the Jamaican public sector who perform varying roles in procurement participating. The cost for the programme is US$5,000 per participant, and the cost of the programme has been subsidized by the CDB and the World Bank. The second batch of CIPS Level 4 participants will start on September 4, 2018 which will be conducted using virtual learning technology and already we have identified 18 participants from the OECS who will participate, again with the support of the CDB.

CIPS Study Centre and Examination Centre

UTech, Jamaica’s application to become a Study Centre for delivery of the CIPS qualifications was approved by that awarding body from March 10, 2017.  The University’s strategic position with CIPS programmes was further enhanced with funding from the World Bank and the CDB for UTech, Jamaica to become a CIPS examination Centre. The University was accredited as an approved CIPS Examination Centre with effect from March 29, 2018.

CPTCC, as an accredited CIPS Examination Centre,  will offer candidates sitting the CIPS examination the choice of using UTech, Jamaica as their examination centre and so provide Caribbean candidates with greater options.

UTech, Jamaica President, Professor Stephen Vasciannie in welcoming the announcement by CIPS, noted that “UTech, Jamaica is committed to delivering on the intended objectives of the Study Centre and the Examination Centre,” adding that the University is pleased to be “delivering value to Caribbean governments in transforming public procurement practices and developing a cadre of qualified professionals across the Caribbean region.”

Douglas Fraser, Head of Procurement, Procurement Policy Unit , Caribbean Development Bank said that  “The Caribbean Development Bank congratulates the Caribbean Procurement Training and Consultancy Centre, at the University of Technology, Jamaica, in being accredited as both a Study Centre and an Exam Centre by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).    This will facilitate the provision of high quality procurement education in the Caribbean and deepen the pool of qualified procurement specialists available to best manage scarce public funds.”

Shaun Moss, Lead Procurement Specialist, The World Bank asserted that “UTech, Jamaica’s approval by CIPS as one of its Exam Centres, complementing its earlier accreditation as a CIPS Study Centre, marks another important milestone along the road towards the professionalization of the procurement function in the Caribbean.”

 Other Courses

The CPTCC, intends to offer a menu of 1 and 5 day courses which have been selected based on the results of a need analysis survey conducted with procurement professionals in the Caribbean over a 2 year period.  The Centre will also roll-out a Foundation Course (36 hours) to candidates without any formal training in procurement practices, as well as high level specialist courses from The International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). A FIDIC Module 1 –Practical Use of FIDIC Contracts, will be conducted during the week of October 1st, 2018. Information on other short courses will be circulated shortly.

For further information on the afore-mentioned short courses or the upcoming CIPS Level 4, Diploma in Procurement and Supply, please e-mail cobamconsultancy@utech.edu.jm or call +1876-970-5688.

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