Voices Magazine-Vol3-Issue-6-WEB

VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica | September - December 2020 16 U niversity of Technology, Jamaica and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 23, 2020 to promote the services of the Labour Market Information System (LMIS), an initiative of the Jamaican Government to alleviate unemployment by increasing access to labour market intelligence. The LMIS is a database of qualitative and quantitative information and a job matching facility that is available at no cost to job seekers, employers, researchers and others. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Mrs. Colette Roberts Risden, describing the LMIS as relevant and user-friendly, explained that the database has been integral in providing labour market information that informs curriculum development to ensure that job seekers are being connected to jobs that match their training and skill set. The Honourable Karl Samuda, Minister of Labour and Social Security, noted at the signing ceremony held at the Ministry’s North Street offices, that the LMIS was one initiative of the Government to overcome the negative impact of the pandemic. The Minister indicated that collaboration between the private and public sectors and academia was the only way that the economy could be revitalized, through taking steps to safeguard the valuable human capital within the country. Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President affirmed the University’s commitment to national development, noting that UTech, Jamaica continues to produce skilled graduates who excel in all professional and technical spheres of the labour market. He praised the utility of the labour market facility, underscoring its importance to job seekers, and as a resource to be mined for research, adding that research is an integral part of the University’s operations. UTech, Jamaica and Ministry of Labour and Social Security Sign MoU to Promote Labour Market Information System (LMIS) (L-R) Mrs. Colette Roberts Risden, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the Honourable Karl Samuda, Minister of Labour and Social Security and Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President affix their signatures to a Memorandum of Understanding between the entities on October 23, 2020 to promote the Ministry’s Labour Market Information System. Looking on is Mr. Vando Palmer, Director, Public Relations and Communications, Ministry of Labour and Social Security. A grateful Shimeika Brown was the beneficiary of the Dr. Patricia E, Green 40th Anniversary Caribbean School of Architecture (CSA) scholarship which was presented by Dr. Green to the final year CSA student at a ceremony on October 30, 2020 on the grounds of the Faculty of The Built Environment, UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus. Valued at $400,000.00, the scholarship was established to mark the 40th anniversary of Dr. Green’s achievement of her professional degree in architecture, which she obtained in 1979 at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, United Kingdom. Dr. Green explained that she was led to make the donation, having received a scholarship to complete her own studies, and being aware of the hardship faced by many students. She noted that she made the donation specifically to a female student to provide encouragement in what many consider to be a male dominated field. In thanking Dr. Green for her generosity, Shimeika expressed her elation at being chosen for the scholarship, indicating that she was self-financed and facing increased difficulty in finding employment due to the pandemic. “This scholarship means so much to me and my mother and my family,” she said, adding “once I finish, which I will, I will be the first of my family to graduate college.” Architect Dr. Patricia Green Marks 40 Years in the Profession with Scholarship to CSA Student Architect Dr. Patricia Green (left), Senior Lecturer, Faculty of The Built Environment presents a symbolic cheque for $400,000.00 to Caribbean School of Architecture final year student Shimeika Brown during a special scholarship presentation ceremony on October 30, 2020 at the UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus.