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University of Technology, Jamaica
• ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
The Office of International and Institutional Linkages
(OIIL) is mandated to spearhead the university’s
adoption of a more deliberate approach to
internationalization, expanding global engagement,
securing strategic alliances with the best in higher
education and society across the world, and
establishing a strong governance framework for all of
these activities.
UTech, Jamaica, Ja. has long established its reputation
for producing technically competent graduates, using
industrial partnerships to help prepare its students for
the workplace. International alliances will contribute
an added dimension to this preparation, enabling
our graduates to become better prepared for global
placement.
The Office negotiated and facilitated the establishment
of multi-year Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)
and Student Exchange Agreements with three
institutions – Humber College Institute of Advanced
Technology, Canada, University of Prince Edward
Island, Canada, and Virginia State University, USA.
Under these reciprocal arrangements, a limited number
of UTech, Jamaica undergraduate students from
the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management,
School of Business Administration, and the School
of Computing and Information Technology may take
courses for credit at these partner institutions and have
those credits transferred upon their return to UTech,
Jamaica to complete their degree. Five (5) UTech,
Jamaica students participated in these study abroad
arrangements in 2014/15.
Internationalisation
The internationalisation of UTech, Jamaica moved into
higher gear during academic year 2014/15. Eighteen
(18) new strategic institutional partners entered
into various Cooperation Agreements, Memoranda
of Understanding (MOUs), and Student Exchange
Agreements with UTech, Jamaica. These important
linkages in several areas of Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and related
applied academic disciplines advance UTech, Jamaica’s
vision to produce “…globally competent, versatile,
innovative entrepreneurial graduates…”.
The longer term objectives are to facilitate more
UTech, Jamaica students to have at least one learning
experience abroad before graduation, to receive more
international students from collaborating institutions for
study at UTech, Jamaica and to diversify the learning
environment at UTech, Jamaica.
The Office of International and Institutional Linkages
and the College of Health Sciences collaborated in
leading UTech, Jamaica’s re-entry into the arena of
medical marijuana. Memoranda of Understanding
Dr. Claire Sutherland
Senior Director