University of Technology, Jamaica ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020
Vision, Mission, Our Core Values....................................................................................................4 University Officers.................................................................................................................................5 President’s Overview...........................................................................................................................6 Academic Affairs Division..................................................................................................................8 Division of Student Services and Registry..............................................................................26 Student Demographics.....................................................................................................................36 Students’ Union....................................................................................................................................50 COLLEGES AND FACULTIES College of Business and Management......................................................................................52 College of Health Sciences............................................................................................................56 Joint Colleges of Medicine, Oral Health and Veterinary Sciences...............................58 Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies.................................................................................62 Faculty of Engineering and Computing.....................................................................................65 Faculty of Law......................................................................................................................................68 Faculty of Science and Sport..........................................................................................................71 Faculty of The Built Environment..................................................................................................75 Operations and Projects Division.................................................................................................79 Planning and Development .............................................................................................................81 Technology and Information Management ............................................................................83 Division Of Community Service And Development............................................................85 Western Campus..................................................................................................................................76 Division of Community Service and Development .............................................................84 Advancement Division......................................................................................................................90 Division of Human Resources and Administration..............................................................101 Associate Vice Presidents, Deans and Heads of School.................................................108 The University Council.......................................................................................................................111 Audited Financial Statements.......................................................................................................103 Senior Executive Compensation.................................................................................................167 Council Members Compensation...............................................................................................169 Appendices........................................................................................................................................... 170 Production Credits............................................................................................................................182 TABLE OF CONTENTS University of Technology, Jamaica 3
4 VISION AND MISSION The University’s 2025 Vision: “We are the #1 University in the Caribbean for work-ready leaders, committed to transforming students and society through high quality teaching, research and value-added services.” Mission Statement: “To positively impact Jamaica and the wider Caribbean through high quality learning opportunities, research and value-added solutions to government, industry and communities.” Our Core Values: Respect Accountability Integrity Service Excellence Innovation Team Spirit University of Technology, Jamaica
University of Technology, Jamaica 5 Professor Stephen Vasciannie, CD President Mr. Richard Powell Pro-Chancellor Prof. Colin Gyles Deputy President Mr. Paul Brissett Chief Business & Finance Officer Mrs. Mercedes Deane University Registrar Hon. Shirley Tyndale, OJ Honorary Treasurer Mr. David Drysdale University Librarian UNIVERSITY OFFICERS
University of Technology, Jamaica 6 PRESIDENT’S OVERVIEW Over the course of the reporting period UTech, Jamaica recorded various developments which are highlighted in the ensuing pages of this Annual Report. In May 2019, the University of Technology, Jamaica, joined with all Jamaica in sadness upon the passing of our distinguished Chancellor, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Order of the Nation, Privy Counsellor, former Minister of Community Development and Welfare, former Minister of Finance and Planning, former Leader of the Opposition, scholar and activist. Mr Seaga served as the Chancellor of the University from 2010 to the time of his passing on his birthday on May 28, 2019. During this period, he was a major source of inspiration and a guide to the leadership of the University. He was instrumental in annual meetings of the University and lent his wealth of experience and expertise to all aspects of the University’s work. He was also Pro-Chancellor at the University of Technology, Jamaica between 2008 to 2010, another position which allowed him to offer direction and drive to the University’s efforts as a national institution. As the Chancellor, Mr Seaga was always determined to advance the progress of our University. He made efforts both behind the scenes and publicly to support the cause of staff members at UTech, Jamaica; he introduced us to persons in the private sector who, in his view, could collaborate with the University; and he presided over our Graduation ceremonies with his traditional elan. Jamaica continues to mourn the passing of Mr Seaga, and so does the University of Technology, Jamaica. His family members, his large universe of friends and colleagues, world leaders and Jamaicans generally have been touched by his practicality, sound judgment, and commitment to his beloved country. During the last quarter of the period, beginning in March 2020, the University, like other institutions of teaching and learning, was greatly impacted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica. In a challenging and uncertain environment, in order to maintain measures to stem the spread of the COVID19 virus in keeping with health and safety protocols outlined by the Government of Jamaica, the University made continuous adjustments to teaching, learning and operational modalities in the best interest of our students and the well-being of staff. In this regard, classes continued to be delivered using a blended approach of online learning systems, web-conferencing, in-person sessions, labs and clinical modalities, based on the course of study requirements of each College or Faculty. Professor Stephen Vasciannie, CD President
University of Technology, Jamaica 7 Throughout the past year, the University, which is funded primarily by the Government of Jamaica, worked assiduously to improve its financial position. The University continued its lobbying efforts with the Government of Jamaica for an increase in the subvention in order to offset the costs of providing for each student and to maintain a cadre of qualified staff. The increase in staff costs include a negotiated salary adjustment granted to the academic staff since 2019/20 and the salary increases to staff across the board based on the percentage increases granted by the Government to public sector workers through collective bargaining agreements. However, despite our best efforts, the University has not been successful in obtaining an increase in the subvention. The shortfall therefore compelled the University to rationalize and prioritize spending and to introduce more stringent measures to manage a curtailed cash flow. Notwithstanding these aforementioned operational challenges of the period, compounded by the pandemic, the University marked a number of noteworthy achievements over the period. Among them, the introduction of six new courses of study, a marked increase in research publications undertaken by staff and an increase in numerous productive research partnerships/consultancies forged with private and public sector entities in support of mutually beneficial human capacity building and innovation for development. Among them the establishment of the Sagicor Innovation Lab and the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with numerous entities inclusive of the Government of Jamaica through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Scientific Research Council (SRC), Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Belize City Council and Sergo Ordzhonikidze Russian State University for Geological Prospecting. During the period, the University of Technology, Jamaica Press also released two new books – Caribbean Essays on Law and Policy, a compilation of six insightful and provocative essays on Caribbean legal and policy issues, which I had the honour of authoring. The second publication, Transformational Challenges in the 21st Century – essays in governance, economy and social relations was penned by Henry J. Lewis, Jr. In the area of scholarships, in January 2020, sixty outstanding undergraduate achievers and four graduate students from across Colleges and Faculties were awarded UTech, Jamaica 60th Anniversary Scholarships in recognition of their exemplary Grade Point Average (GPA) scores of above 3.5 in the previous academic year. The UTech, Jamaica 60th Anniversary Scholarships to students totalled $6.4 million, with each student awardee receiving $100,000. The 60th Anniversary Scholarships added to the pool of scholarships and grants donated by over 100 faithful donors from both the private sector and government, in support of our students. The University is grateful to the many donors who continue to recognize and respond to the need for financial support to our students. Another significant development was recorded with the public declaration by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) in 2019 of seven additional national monuments at the UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus. The seven buildings which have been given this status are the University Chapel, the Drawing Room, Bryan’s Book Store, the Victoria Mutual Facility, the Cynthia Shako Early Childhood Educational Centre, the Centre for the Arts and the Student Activity Centre. Under the JNHT Act, the Trust so declared these sites as national monuments in recognition that their preservation is a matter of public interest owing to their historic, architectural, traditional, artistic, aesthetic or scientific value. The new declaration brought the total number of national monuments on the Campus to nine and joined previously declared sites – Lillian’s Restaurant and the Ruins of the Three Silos. It should also be noted in the continuing tradition of UTech, Jamaica’s status as the “Home of World Class Athletes,” that our student athletes and alumni recorded remarkable performances on the world stage. At the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar UTech, Jamaica Knights earned 5 gold medals, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals. I invite you to review the ensuing pages which further highlight some of the continued progress being made by Jamaica’s first national university in its forward march as a burgeoning centre of world class teaching and learning.
University of Technology, Jamaica 8 The Academic Affairs Division comprises eight colleges and faculties along with the following academic management offices: Office of Distance Learning (ODL); Office of Quality Assurance (OQA); Office of Teaching & Learning (OTL); School of Graduate Studies Research and Entrepreneurship (SGSRE); Western Campus; The Calvin McKain Library; Caribbean Sustainable Energy and Innovation Institute (CSEII); and the UTech Academy. The Academic Affairs Division under the guidance and direction of the Deputy President continued to provide academic services for students and other stakeholders. Such services included development and implementation of curricula, standards, policies, procedures and regulations to govern the delivery of the University’s academic programmes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Institutional Accreditation Further to institutional accreditation being granted by the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ), an update was provided to the UCJ on October 3, 2019, in respect of Risk Management Training as well as actions taken based on other recommendations. The UCJ has scheduled a mid-cycle site visit to UTech, Jamaica for 2022. Office of Quality Assurance For the period under review the Office of Quality Assurance (OQA) focused on enhancing the Academic Advisement Process. This was driven by the addition of a Senior Quality Assurance Officer with responsibility for managing the Academic Advisement process across the University. The OQA also worked on preparing the Annual Report for Institutional Accreditation (March 31, 2020). The conduct of Academic Quality Audits remained a priority as this is the main internal quality assurance activity for ensuring the quality of course offerings. Work continued on changing from a paper based to an online administration of the Student Instructor-Module Evaluation. The aim is to have online evaluations as of Academic Year 2020 to 2021. Institutional Accreditation The Office of Quality Assurance is currently working on the first full Annual Status Report for submission to the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ). The submission date of March 31, 2020 was missed due to onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. An extension was sought and the annual report should be ready for submission by June 30, 2020. Prof. Colin Gyles Deputy President ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DIVISION Dr. Winsome Russell Associate Vice President
University of Technology, Jamaica 9 Two successful Risk Management Training sessions were held, respectively, for senior managers and other members of staff who are involved in preparing accreditation documents. The University submitted an update to the UCJ on October 3, 2019, in respect of Risk Management Training as well as action taken based on other recommendations. The UCJ will conduct a midcycle site visit at UTech Jamaica in 2022. Academic Quality Audits The Internal Academic Quality Audits at UTech, Jamaica complement and amplify the accreditation process and strengthen the University’s capacity to maintain Institutional Accreditation. To date all Schools within the University have been audited. The re-audit exercise commenced October 2015 and sixteen (16) Schools have been re-audited. The following Academic Units were re-audited during the period: 1. Faculty of Law (September 9-13, 2019) 2. School of Business Administration (September 23-27, 2019) 3. School of Allied Health and Wellness (November 18-22, 2019) The Academic Units continue to use the audit reports to inform quality enhancement and to monitor the Implementation Plans to ensure that the nonconformances and recommendations are addressed. With the achievement of Institutional Accreditation (IA), the Office of Quality Assurance is in the process of revising the audit templates to reflect the Institutional Accreditation Standards of the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ). Academic Advisement The Academic Advisement Policy was revised to maintain currency. It now includes schedules for identified vulnerable student populations for which there is the provision of deliberate academic advisement as well as the provision of academic advisement services for graduate students. The revised policy awaits the ratification of the Academic Board. The Academic Advisement Manual was updated at the start of the Academic Year 2019/2020 and is now accessible on the Intranet. Further updates are pending regarding the provision of advisement services during crisis situations. Training for all eight academic units have been offered by the University’s Academic Advisement Unit (UAAU) as well as for the Students’ Union Council Executive. Training will also be done at the Montego-Bay campuses.
University of Technology, Jamaica 10 Office of Teaching and Learning Course of Study Development The following courses of study were approved during the period: • Associate of Science in Entertainment Design, Production and Technology (2019/A/08/94/B) • Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Design, Production and Technology (2019/A/08/94/A) • Bachelor of Science in Computer Networking and Security • Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems • Master/Doctor of Philosophy in the Built Environment (2019/A/08/95C) • Master of Science in Engineering (Revision) (2020/A/02/15A) Alternative Assessment With the onset of COVID-19 and the closure of the institution in March 2020, the Office of Teaching and Learning in collaboration with the Office of Quality Assurance developed Alternative Assessment Strategies. With the introduction of the alternative strategies, the Policy on Testing and Assessment (2013/A/08/93A) section 5.0 Changing the Module Assessment Breakdown (MAB) structure, sub-section 5.4 was activated. Additionally, sub-section 4.3 Timeline for implementing major changes in a module in the policy on Major and Minor Changes to Courses of Study (2016/A/05/45D) was relaxed to accommodate the changes to the Module Assessment Structure (MAB). Co-operative Education The Co-operative Education Unit launched its Student Ambassadors’ programme in September 2019. Under the programme, twelve students commenced formal training with a view to assisting the Unit in executing its various promotional activities. The training received by the student ambassadors also aided in their development of key employability skills, namely communication, leadership, and teambuilding skills. Co-op Ed Student Ambassadors completing an exercise in one of in their training sessions The third annual Co-operative Education Awards Ceremony for employers and students was also held in September 2019. The main objective of the Awards Ceremony was to recognize Co-op Ed employers who consistently demonstrated commitment and dedication to the Co-op Ed Programme, as well as, students who best displayed high levels of professionalism, exceeding employers’ expectations in attitude and work, while on the Co-op programme. Eight employers and nine students were recognized at the event. ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DIVISION Cont’d. Dr Haldane Johnson Associate Vice President
University of Technology, Jamaica 11 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Twenty-three (23) PLA applicants were registered in undergraduate courses of study. Thirteen (13) graduate applicants were engaged in Graduate Portfolio Development Seminars while two workshops were held to train Graduate Programme Directors to assess Portfolios for Graduate Matriculation (PGM). A total of six (6) PD’s were trained. Another workshop is scheduled for April 2020. UTech, JA. Programme Directors participate in a Graduate Portfolio Assessment Workshop. The Unit continues to track the academic performance of PLA students through their respective courses of study. Office of Distance Learning During the reporting period, the Office of Distance Learning (ODL) continued its focus on the strategic approach for increasing flexible opportunities for learning in terms of the following priorities: a) expanding the development and delivery of online modules to the region; b) deployment of human and technical resources to support online-distance learning; c) implementing an integrated distance learner support service strategy; and d) establishing a quality assurance framework for distance learning to align with national standards and international best practices. These priority targets were pursued within the wider context of the institutional accreditation status granted to the University in February 2018. During the last month of the period, there was a rapid pivot to emergency remote teaching by the University, to cope with the emerging global health pandemic (COVID-19). This pivot was part of the urgent mitigation strategies to comply with the national directives for reduced movements, quarantines and physical distancing (no face-to-face classes), while completing the remaining three weeks of the second semester including final examinations, through technology-mediated delivery systems. Academic Collaboration & Online Course Development There was the facilitation of over 220 modules to approximately 6,000 students by 250 lecturers per Dr. Jeanette Bartley-Bryan Associate Vice President
University of Technology, Jamaica 12 ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DIVIS ION Cont’d. semester, via the UTechOnline Learning Management System (LMS) and BlackBoard Collaborate webconferencing application. Of significance was the fully online development of at least nine (9) general education modules, available as online blended and/or fully online options for each semester. This continuum of online delivery options catered for the direct needs of the distance learners across the region, while allowing for the convenience of on-campus students. In March 2020, the faculties/colleges with online modules in the UTechOnline LMS, and lecturers who had prior online teaching experiences, were better able to pivot to emergency remote teaching and progressively incorporate good practices of the online learning environment. However, most of the practical aspects of the curriculum (laboratory, field-study and workplace experiences) had to be suspended, as these could not be accommodated immediately by virtual means. The College of Health Sciences has been the leading academic unit, with a strategic plan for online learning. During this period, it offered four fully-online courses of study including approximately twenty-two (22) online examinations, to at least one hundred and fortytwo (142) students from eleven (11) countries from the Caribbean and North America. The online courses of study were the Post Diploma in Pharmacy, the Doctor of Pharmacy, Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition, and the Master of Science in Health Administration. The countries were Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, and the USA (Florida). The College of Business Management has also been an academic leader by having approximately fifty percent of the total modules, lecturers and students utilizing the UTechOnline LMS, at any given time. The School of Business Administration had also been exploring the use of web-conferencing systems to link classes between the Western (Montego Bay) and Papine (Kingston) campuses. Faculty and Student Support for Online Learning The ODL continued to expand the range and quality of support services and systems for faculty and students. These services included: a. Implementation of the Safe Exam Browser to reduce access to non-exam websites for increased security and integrity of online examinations. b. Automation of a welcome letter with preliminary guidelines to be disseminated to students upon enrolment in an online module. c. Upgrading online modules and resources to reflect universal design principles for increased accessibility and engagement by all students, regardless of diverse physical or cognitive characteristics, abilities or impairments. d. Hosting of sessions with other central units, such as the Library, to provide information to students on the online resources available to support their learning in face-to-face and online environments. e. Increased access for students to practice areas such as the online orientation module and a test space for Turnitin plagiarism detection tool. f. Increased access to standard university resources within all UTechOnline modules. g. Increased access to recordings of training workshops, webinars and materials for all sensitization or orientation sessions, made available as resource links on the ODL channel on YouTube and the ODL Blog. Webinar topics included Open Educational Resources and Online PlannerWriting, while workshops included Applying Universal Design Principles and Creation of Online Quizzes. Community Service/Professional Services/ Linkages Members of the ODL Team have been responding
University of Technology, Jamaica 13 individually to various invitations from several university groups to share about the opportunities and benefits of distance learning for institutional sustainability. For example, the ODL organized a display booth and presentation for the UTech Students Union Academic Affairs Day. The ODL has also offered instructional design support for external clients such as CARI-CODE Limited who wish to develop fully online training courses for professional certification through the UTech Academy. Mrs. Ilsa duVerney (2nd left) CEO of the Caribbean Centre for Organization Development Excellence (CARI-CODE) and Professor Colin Gyles (2nd right), Deputy President, UTech, Jamaica sign an Academic Agreement between the two institutions at a signing ceremony held November 22, 2019, at the UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus. Looking on from left are Ms. Tausa Swaby, Associate Consultant, CARI-CODE and Dr Jeanette Bartley-Bryan, Associate Vice President, Office of Distance Learning & UTech Academy, UTech, Jamaica. Calvin McKain Library Improved Library Services Users continued to rely heavily on the expertise of staff, especially through their liaison librarians to support their learning experience and academic success. The Library continued to promote its services to the wider university community through its upgraded website and use of social media platforms. The liaison librarian service was highly promoted during the closure period of the University caused by the COVID19 pandemic. The self-check machine service offered at the Library was launched during Library Week October 2019 Book Collection: At the end of the year under review, the print collection stood at approximately 137,760 print volumes and Mr David Drysdale University Librarian
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DIVIS ION Cont’d. University of Technology, Jamaica 14 approximately 88,241 e-books through subscription and direct purchase. While the budget of $38,570,000 for reference books and other media was lower than the allocation of $42,000,000 for the previous year, the amount nevertheless adequately covered the expenditure for textbooks, reference books, electronic books, audio-visual materials, bindery, cargo storage and other expenses related to building the collection. During the year the library purchased a total of 809 new print books and 9,241 e-books. COLINET Symposium One of the main activities for the library during the year was the planning and hosting of the biennial symposium of the College Libraries Information Network (COLINET). COLINET hosted its 11th biennial Symposium under the theme “Libraries: The Hub of Institutional Success”, on Thursday and Friday, February 20 to 21, 2020 at Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort in St. Ann, Jamaica. New Subscriptions and Resources A number of new subscriptions were started during the year, as the library continued to make available to users a wider array of electronic resources. The following were among the new databases subscriptions: SAGE Research Methods Subscription was started in April 2019, and this database supports research at all levels by providing material to guide users through every step of the research process. It contains over 1,000 books, reference works, journal articles, and instructional videos by world-leading academics from across the social sciences, including the largest collection of qualitative methods books available online from any scholarly publisher. The Proquest subscription was upgraded to Proquest One Academic effective August 1, 2019. ProQuest One Academic provides access to the world’s largest curated collection of journals, ebooks, dissertations, news, video and primary sources, all in one place. ProQuest One Academic includes four core multi-disciplinary products – ProQuest Central, Academic Complete, Academic Video Online and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Digital Library subscription was started in September 2019. ACM is the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, and delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession. The ACM Digital Library is the most comprehensive collection of full text articles and bibliographic records covering the fields of computing and information technology. The West Indian Medical Journal was made an open access resource, so no subscription payment is needed to now access the articles. The West Indian Medical Journal is a peer-reviewed scientific Journal that provides information of relevance to the Caribbean in a wide range of disciplines in or related to the health sciences. It contains original scientific research, reviews, case reports, brief communications, letters, commentaries and medical images. Trial Databases The following new databases were tried by users and library staff in an effort to determine whether full subscriptions to these resources would be necessary. The trial databases were: Routledge Handbooks Online (Trial date – June 24, 2019 – July 23, 2019): Routledge Handbooks Online is an invaluable educational resource bringing together the world’s leading scholars to provide a cutting-edge overview of classic and current research from Routledge, and CRC Press, in the Humanities, Social sciences, Education, Psychology, Engineering, and Built environment. Trial for ProQuest One Academic (Trial date – June 14, 2019 – July 26, 2019): ProQuest One Academic provides access to the world’s largest curated collection of journals, ebooks, dissertations, news, video and primary sources, all in one place. ProQuest One Academic includes four core multi-disciplinary products – ProQuest Central, Academic Complete,
University of Technology, Jamaica 15 Academic Video Online and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Trial for HeinOnline’s International Core (September 12, 2019 - November 12, 2019) HeinOnline is a premier online database containing more than 173 million pages and 270,000 titles of historical and government documents in a fully searchable, image-based format. HeinOnline bridges an important research gap by providing comprehensive coverage from inception of more than 2,700 law-related periodicals. In addition to its vast collection of academic journals, HeinOnline contains the entire Congressional Record, Federal Register, and Code of Federal Regulations, complete coverage of the U.S. Reports back to 1754, and entire databases dedicated to treaties, constitutions, case law, world trials, classic treatises, international trade, foreign relations, U.S. Presidents, and much more. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Digital Library (Trial date – September 24, 2019 – October 31, 2019); ACM is the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, and delivers resources that advance computing as a science and a profession. The ACM Digital Library is the most comprehensive collection of full text articles and bibliographic records covering the fields of computing and information technology. Print Collection The total print material circulation for the year was 11,798, which represented a significant increase of 9,118 from the figure of 2,680 for the year 2018/2019. During the period a total of 6,754 short term or overnight books were borrowed, compared to 1,446 books the previous year. This marked increase could be attributed to the change in loan policy, which allowed users to borrow overnight books for seven nights non-renewable instead of three nights. There was also an increase in the loan period of general lending books, as students were allowed loan of these books for 28 days non-renewable, instead of the previous 14-day loan period with one renewal. Staff book loans increased from 4 to 43 during the period. The reading room usage figures moved from 141 for the previous year to 340 during the review period. Reference and Research Resources The reference services information requests amounted to 290 during the period. This was a decrease by 180 requests compared to 470 requests during the period 2018-2019. However, the face-to-face Reference Desk requests increased slightly from 230 to 239. Document Delivery via OCLC also increased from 24 requests to 50 requests; an increase by 26 requests. Caribbean materials loaned decreased from 295 in 2018-2019 to 228 in 2019-2020. It is also in keeping with what is happening in academic libraries globally. Users are using open sources and having greater access to electronic resources. The library provides access to most of these resources. The usage statistics for electronic resources continued to show massive increases in the use of most databases. Statistics from the use of the major databases showed that there was an overall increase of some 3,714,791 during the year. Total databases used at the end of the year stood at 4,874,102 – a massive four hundred and twenty percent (420%) jump over the figure of 1,159,311 for the previous year. Library Archives The Archives in the Library continued to function as a central repository for university documents, including the uploading of past examinations papers for access online.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DIVISION Cont’d. University of Technology, Jamaica 16 Graduate Studies Research and Entrepreneurship The School of Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship (SGSRE) continued to lead and manage the development and delivery of graduate courses, promote the University’s research agenda, and foster entrepreneurial activities. In addition to conducting these mandates, the SGSRE also successfully fulfilled its responsibilities of administering the Intellectual Property Rights Policy of the University, managing academic publications, publishing the peer-reviewed Journal of Arts Science and Technology and overseeing the operations of the University Press. Graduate Studies In 2019/2020 Academic Year, the University offered 24 taught and 11 research graduate degree courses of study in which two hundred and seventy-four (274) students were enrolled in 2019. In 2019, eighty-five (85) students were awarded graduate degrees. Taught Graduate Degree Courses of Study Dr. Paul Ivey Associate Vice President College/Faculty Course College of Business and Management Doctor of Business Administration Master of Business Administration College of Health Sciences Master of Science in Health Administration Post Baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy Master of Science in Trauma Studies and Integrative Counseling Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics and Nutrition Postgraduate Diploma in Trauma Studies and Integrative Counseling Joint Colleges of Medicine, Oral Health and Veterinary Sciences Master of Science in Public Health Master of Science in Dental Therapy Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies Master of Science in Career and Technical Education Master of Science in Workforce Training and Education Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Management Post-Graduate Diploma in Education Faculty of Engineering and Computing Master of Science in Information Systems Management Master of Science in Engineering Post-Graduate Diploma in Information and Communication Technology Faculty of Science and Sport Master of Science in Mathematics Teaching (in collaboration with Church Teachers’ College) Master of Science in Physical Education and Sport (in collaboration with G. C. Foster College of Physical Education & Sport)
University of Technology, Jamaica 17 College/Faculty Course Faculty of The Built Environment Master of Architecture Master of Science in Built Environment Master of Science in Sustainable Energy & Climate Change Master of Science in Integrated Rural Development Research Degree Courses of Study President’s Research Award The President’s Research Award aims to promote research excellence in the University. The purpose of the award is to stimulate research and scholarly activities by identifying and recognizing individuals who demonstrate exceptional ability through their scholarly activities, research publications, research income generation and grantsmanship, creative research activity and other research outputs. The 2019, President’s Research Award was presented to Dr. Neleen Leslie-Piper, Lecturer, College of Business and Management received the prestigious President’s Research Award. Dr. Leslie-Piper has published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at several conferences, supervised undergraduate and graduate research projects, conducted research workshops, and has engaged in consultancy activities. Research, Technology and Innovation Day The University’s Research Technology and Innovation Day (RTID) was scheduled for March 12, 2020, however, due to the threat of the COVID-19 virus, the annual event was cancelled. College/Faculty Course College of Business and Management Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration College of Health Sciences Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutics Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy in Career and Technical Education Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Management Faculty of Engineering and Computing Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy in Information Systems Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering Master of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Science and Sport Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry Faculty of The Built Environment Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy in Built Environment
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DIVISION Cont’d. University of Technology, Jamaica 18 Research Development Fund (RDF) During the reporting period the Research Development Fund (RDF) provided internal funding for various research and related activities. Managed by the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship, the RDF provides support for all areas of research undertaken by UTech, Jamaica staff members. These supported areas included research projects, publication fee, research capacity building and conference support totalling $13,656,935in 2019. Research Incentive To further promote and increase the University’s research output, a research incentive of US$250 was introduced for each research paper published in a peer-reviewed journal by staff members. For the reporting period, 30 applications for the research incentive were received and approved, bringing the overall total from its inception in 2017 to 83, and representing payment of $US11,938.00. Staff Publication Staff publication output - comprising books/book chapters, peer-reviewed journal papers, and conference presentations – for the period 2007-2019 is shown in the figure below: Journal of Arts Science and Technology (JAST) In March 2020, Volume 13 Number 1 of the University’s flagship, peer-reviewed Journal of Arts Science and Technology (JAST) was published in print and online on EBSCOhost, and the University’s website. In order to enhance circulation of the Journal, individual papers were downloaded from EBSCOhost and sent to the author(s) as an electronic ‘offprint’ as well as targeted circulation of relevant papers to over 70 local agencies/institutions. The Journal also published a special issue of selected past conference papers on behalf of the Association of Caribbean Higher Education Administrators (ACHEA). The Association of Caribbean Higher Education Administrators is the region’s premier professional development and networking organization for administrators in HEIs. 12 23 27 68 59 129 115 160 59 69 160 162 187 0 50 100 150 200 2007' 2008' 2009' 2010' 2011' 2012' 2013' 2014' 2015' 2016' 2017' 2018' 2019' NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS YEAR Figure 1: Total number of Publications produced each year by the University (2007-2019)
University of Technology, Jamaica 19 Following the untimely death of the Editor-in-Chief of JAST, Mr. Martin Henry, in May 2019, the University appointed Professor Cynthia Onyefulu as the new Editor-in-Chief in September 2019. Entrepreneurship and Project Management The following consultancy, capacity-building, and/or research projects were led by the SGSRE during the period under review: Grant Projects and Proposals Project Details CITY-Lab (European Union) The Faculty of the Built Environment continued implementation of the “Citi-Lab” project that is aimed at the infusion of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach into selected courses/modules at the Universities within the 15-member consortium led by the University of Antwerp, Belgium. Dr. Carol Archer, Faculty of the Built Environment, is the local Project Leader. The project is funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme and is slated to conclude in October 2020. None in Three (Ni3) The University partnered with the None in Three (Ni3) Research Centre at the University of Huddersfield, UK, for research and development of pro-social computer games for the prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) among children and young people. A four-year contract was signed to implement the project in Jamaica which is being managed by Dr. Christine Fray-Aiken, Project Country Director from the College of Health Sciences. The Ni3 is a global research centre established in October 2017 with satellite offices conducting projects in China, India, Jamaica and Uganda. Improving Household Nutrition Security and Public Health in CARICOM Professor Fitzroy Henry of the COHS is UTech, Jamaica’s co-investigator on this project that is being implemented by a consortium of institutions comprising: University of West Indies, University of Technology, Jamaica, Cambridge University (UK) and McGill University (Canada). Funded by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, the overall goals of the proposal are to build a shared understanding amongst stakeholders of the complex adaptive systems driving local food production and consumption in English-speaking CARICOM states; and implement coordinated packages of interventions within national food systems that promote sustainable livelihoods of vulnerable groups, including rural populations and women, and combat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). LINKS project Professor Fitzroy Henry continues to anchor UTech’s participation on this project that is valued at US$55,000. The project supports the analysis of local food samples for their fat and salt content. Collaborators are the Scientific Research Council and the Bureau of Standards. Removing Trans-fat from Food Supply In Jamaica Professor Fitzroy Henry is the lead researcher on this project that is funded by the National Health Fund in the amount of JMD $4,970,000. The project aims, through consultations, sensitization and training among various stakeholders to develop guidelines, standards and regulation relating to Trans-fat in Jamaica’s food supply chain. ACP Innovation Fund-Call for Proposals The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the European Union (EU) have launched the ACP Innovation Fund, a substantial effort to boost and optimise STI capacities in the ACP countries. The programme is to improve the capacity of research and innovation stakeholders, policy development and knowledge transfer. The University partnered with the University of Alicante in Spain in submitting a proposal.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DIVISION Cont’d. University of Technology, Jamaica 20 From left: Dr. Janet Campbell-Shelly, Dr. Christine Fray-Aiken, Professor Colin Gyles, Professor Adele Jones, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, President and Dr. Ellen Campbell-Grizzle pose for a group photograph following the signing of a lease agreement between the Ni3 Jamaica Project and the Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), JDSEEL for the operation of the research project at the TIC for its duration. Consultancy Projects Project Details Assessment of the Apprenticeship and Internship Consultancy in Barbados A UTech, Jamaica team of Consultants, led by Dr. Audrey Thomas, successfully completed this project on behalf of the Barbados Government. Update of the Multi-Hazard Contingency Planning Manual for the Caribbean Tourism Sector UTech, Jamaica and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) have mutually decided to end this contract that was valued at US$40,300. This contract was being implemented by the College of Business and Management (COBAM). Study of Voter Apathy in Jamaica The University submitted a proposal to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica to undertake a study to determine the factors contributing to voter apathy in Jamaica. The proposal was submitted by COBAM. The Caribbean Procurement Training Programme (CPTP) Under the CIPS Level 4 Programme, UTech, Jamaica registered seventeen (17) students to sit the CIPS Level 4 L4M1 and L4M8 paper-based exams in November 2019. This was a COBAM-led project. World Bank Procurement Consultancy Project The University, through COBAM, signed a contract with the World Bank to provide Procurement Training Consultants for Grenada, Saint Lucia & Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Through this consultancy, the CPTP will provide procurement training to Government Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and contractors across these three states. This training was designed to equip these stakeholders to effectively use the new legislation on procurement in their countries.
University of Technology, Jamaica 21 Project Details Security Strengthening Project: Development of the Curriculum for the Learning Elements of the Project, Ministry of National Security, Jamaica A team led by Dr. Winsome Russell and including Dr. Audrey Thomas and Mrs. La-Cresha Gordon-Brydson prepared and submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) in response to a Call from the Ministry of National Security. Consultancy to Provide an Economic Impact Study 2015/16 and 2016/17 for the Norman Manley International Airport The University successfully completed this consultancy. The project was led by COBAM. Caribbean Regional Procurement Training Centre (CPTCC) The CPTCC conducted a two-day workshop on Sustainable Procurement in collaboration with Action Sustainability from the UK on April 29 and 30, 2019. The CPTCC has two workshops scheduled for September and October 2019 and intends to engage the private sector by providing training. This was a COBAM-led project. Intellectual Property (IP) Trademark Protection of the University’s Mascot During the previous reporting period, the SGSRE in collaboration with the Office of the President, the Legal Counsel and Compliance Office, and the Department of Sport sought to secure trademark protection of the University’s Mascot, the UTech Knight. The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) formally acknowledged the University’s application for trademark protection of the 15 representations of the University’s Mascot. The final decision is awaited. Patent Agent The service of a Patent Agent was engaged to assist with the evaluation of the patentability of a drug formulation resulting from the research MPhil student (Nickania Pryce) from the College of Health Sciences. Although patentability was not established, the engagement of the services of the Patent Agent signalled the University’s intention to evaluate research results for their commercialization potential. Technology Transfer The University received a request by the Meteorological Service for use of the research results from a thesis conducted by students of the School of Building and Land Management, Faculty of the Built Environment. The request was granted and the thesis provided for use in a project for establishing a bushfire early warning management system. The thesis titled “Predicting the Occurrence of Bushfires using Geospatial Multi-Criteria Analysis: A Case Study of Kingston and St. Andrew Jamaica 2007–2016” was written by Raylon Ricketts and Maurice Wallace. IP Training The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), through the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), offered scholarships for interested UTech staff members to be trained through the WIPO Academy. Dr. Andrea Barrett and Mr. Giovanni Maddix, staff members of COBAM were granted scholarships to pursue one of the course offerings entitled Intellectual Property Management. Sub-Regional Seminar on the Patent Cooperation Treaty AVP Dr. Paul Ivey attended a Sub-Regional Seminar on the Patent Cooperation Treaty, hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Intellectual Property Office, Ministry of the Attorney General and
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS DIVISION Cont’d. University of Technology, Jamaica 22 Legal Affairs, Trinidad & Tobago between October 22 and 23, 2019. The purpose of the seminar was to share with participants the provisions and benefits of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) that is administered by WIPO. Use of the PCT results in significant cost savings to applicants in application fees, translation costs, attorney fees, etc. Seminar delegates were drawn from Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Switzerland, Jamaica, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago. All the above-mentioned countries, except Jamaica, are signatories to the PCT. University Press The University of Technology, Jamaica Press is now managed by the AVP Dr. Paul Ivey. Although no new titles were published during the reporting period, two manuscripts - ‘Caribbean Essays on Law and Policy’ by Professor Stephen Vascianne and ‘Transformational Challenges in the 21st Century: A Jamaica Perspective’ by Henry Lewis (Lecturer, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies) - were finalized. The Press continued to engage staff members and secured several other manuscripts from lecturers as well as book proposals from interested outside parties. Caribbean Sustainable Energy and Innovation Institute (CSEII) CSEII relationship with the CARICOM Energy Desk The CSEII continued to deepen its relationship with the CARICOM Energy Desk and participated in the eleventh staging of the annual Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF 2019). During the period, meetings were used to strategize the Caribbean Region’s approaches to expanding its renewable energy and tackle the challenges that remain, and continue building out the conversations needed to bring progress to the Caribbean renewables transition. A major development during the year was the creation of a Regional Universities Networking (RUN) Forum whose overall objective is to facilitate open dialogue among key representatives within the CARIFORUM and Cuba network of regional universities on energy. Other collaborations included internships by the Master of Science in Sustainable Energy and Climate Change (MSSECC) students at the Climate Change Innovation Centre. The AVP is Vice Chair of the Steering committee. Green Certification The Caribbean Sustainable Energy and Innovation Institute (CSEII) participated in the pilot phase of the Green Business Jamaica (GBJ) programme. The University was recognized by GBJ partners, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). The scope of the Pilot Phase of the GBJ Programme, focused on the Papine and Dome Street campuses. The areas of strength for the University are Environmental Awareness and Training, Solid Waste Management and Energy Efficiency and Conservation”. The Global Fuel Economy Initiative project The Global Fuel Economy Initiative project ended officially in December 2018 but work continued through 2019/2020 as final reports were submitted to UN Environment and the National Action Plan which required the engagement Dr. Ruth Potopsingh Associate Vice President
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