he gift of a donation of thirty (30) new reconditioned computers from the Black Butterfly Org. Inc. Foundation out of New York, USA to the University of Technology Jamaica, Faculty of Engineering and Computing’s (FENC) Mechanical and Industrial Engineering laboratory, has significantly boosted prospects for teaching, learning and research. The donation was handed over at a ceremony on April 21, 2023, at the Faculty’s Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Laboratory, School of Engineering building, Papine Campus. The transformed state-of-the-art lab will enable increased processing capabilities for Augmented Reality simulations, Digital Additive Manufacture, Structural Engineering modelling, and large-scale mathematical modelling simulations. Additionally, capabilities at the industry 4.0 lab have also been boosted with the sponsorship of 30 software licenses sponsored through Prokon, a South African company. The computer donation, which is valued at approximately US$38,888.00, is an initiative of Black Butterfly Org Inc. and its board through lobby efforts spearheaded by Dean, FENC, Professor Sean Thorpe. The handing over was made by CEO and founder, Mr. Arthur Phidd who was making his second donation to the faculty, having previously donated computers to the FENC Laboratories located at the University’s Montego Bay, Dome Street campus in 2018. Mr. Phidd who has led information technology & corporate-wide business transformation programmes across multiple industries including, retail, banking, consumer products, eCommerce, gaming, telecommunications, and government, told the gathering of members of faculty, staff and engineering students, that to offer the donation “for me it is a dream come true,” adding that “I made a promise to myself years ago that I was going to make sure that I pay it forward, so you are actually helping me to make a dream come true and we are not done yet,” he stated, adding that additional donations to the Faculty are in the pipeline. Welcoming the donation, Professor Colin Gyles, CD, Acting President, University of Technology, Jamaica expressed sincere gratitude to the benefactors, thanking the Foundation for the gift of computers which he noted will go a far way in support of teaching and learning outcomes and in furthering UTech, Jamaica’s reputation as the country’s largest producer of “workready graduates.” He invited other partners locally and from the diaspora to similarly lend support to the University towards carrying out its mission for national development. Prof. Gyles specially acknowledged Dean, Professor Sean Thorpe, members of the FENC academic, technical, and administrative staff including Dr. Damian Graham, Progranne Director and Lecturer, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, Mr. Salvador Martinez, Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering, and others who contributed to making the donation a reality. Continued on page 12 10 11 April- September 2023 | VOICES Bi- Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica Fourth year Civil Engineering student, Miss Kadeisha Cooper, in expressing gratitude to the donor, noted that many students were set back during the COVID-19 pandemic and are therefore grateful to have access to the new computers to complete their studies. Mrs. Denise Currie-Charles, Administrative Assistant, School of Engineering presents a token of appreciation to Mr. Arthur Phidd at the ceremony for the handing over of a donation of 30 computers to the Faculty of Engineering and Computing on April 21, 2023, at the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering laboratory, School of Engineering Building, Faculty of Engineering and Computing, UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus. T
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