VOICES MAGAZINE, Issue 5

VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica | October - November 2017 12 T he University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Ja.) through its Faculty of The Built Environment (FOBE) has signed a formal partnership with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) for technical cooperation in developing a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Integrated Rural Development slated to be offered by the University in 2018. President, UTech, Ja., Professor Stephen Vasciannie, CD and Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, Representative IICA Jamaica signed a Memorandum of Understanding on October 25, 2017 at the University’s Papine Campus. IICA has been the specialized agency for agriculture of the Inter-American System for 75 years. Its mission is “to encourage, promote and support our Member States in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence.” Under the MoU Agreement UTech, Jamaica and IICA will pursue collaborative arrangements for inter alia, course development in areas related to agriculture and rural development, cooperative education/internship facilitation, capacity building, resource sharing, public education, joint publications and provision of scholarships and bursaries. The Agreement will be for a period of five (5) years. UTech, Jamaica has also partnered with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) as one of the principal partners for the development of the Master’s Programme. UTech, Jamaica Signs MoU with the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture for Development of MSc in Rural Development Prof. Stephen Vasciannie, CD, President, University of Technology, Jamaica and Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, Country Representative, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) display a copy of the signed Memorandum of Understanding between both entities. From left are Ms. Shauna Brandon, Rural Development Specialist, IICA., Dr. Amani Ishemo, Associate Professor, FOBE, Dr. Garfield Young, Dean, FOBE and Mr. Hector Wheeler, Associate Vice President, Advancement, UTech, Ja. Prof. Stephen Vasciannie, President, University of Technology, Jamaica (centre) and Mr. Peter Thompson, CEO, RADA sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of a Master of Science degree in Integrated Rural Development, during a signing ceremony held on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at the University’s Papine Campus. Looking on is Dr. Garfield Young, Dean, Faculty of The Built Environment