The University of Technology
Encyclopedia
The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) is a university
in Jamaica
. The university's current president is Prof. Errol Morrison
.
The institution was accorded University status on September 1, 1995 as the University of Technology, Jamaica. The University of Technology, Jamaica Act 27 – 1999, which makes permanent provisions for the establishment of the University of Technology, Jamaica, was approved by Parliament on June 8, 1999 and signed into law by the Governor General on June 29, 1999.
The history of the institution is intimately connected with the social and economic development of Jamaica. From just over 50 students and four programmes in 1958, UTech has grown to become a major national institution with a student population of over 10,000. It now offers more than 50 programmes at certificate, diploma and degree levels.
Syllabuses are modelled on the English polytechnic system, with emphasis on flexibility of approach, work-based learning and professional linkages. Flexibility in its academic programmes is reflected in the various modes of course delivery, which include full-time and part-time (day release and evening) and cooperative work-based programmes. Several credit and non-credit courses are offered during the Summer Session from mid-May to August. In addition, several programmes are franchised through links with community colleges, and most programmes are linked to national and international professional organisations.
Courses are offered at the certificate
, diploma
, undergraduate
, and post-graduate degree levels.
The Faculty of Law.
The Faculty of the Built Environment consists of the School of Building and Land Management and the Caribbean School of Architecture, the only architectural school in the English-speaking Caribbean.
The Schools of Business Administration and Hospitality and Tourism Management are in the Faculty of Business and Management.
The College of Health Sciences comprise the School of Allied Health and Nursing, School of Dental Sciences, School of Pharmacy, School of Public Health and Health Technology and the Insititute of Health and Medical Sciences.
The Faculty of Science and Sport consist of the School of Natual and Applied Sciences, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Caribbean School of Sport Sciences and the Centre for Science-based Research, Entrepreneurship and Continuing Studies.
The Schools of Computing and Information Technology
and Engineering
fall within the Faculty of Engineering and Computing while the Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts contains the programmes of the Department of Liberal Studies and the School of Technical and Vocational Education.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. The university's current president is Prof. Errol Morrison
Errol Morrison
Errol Morrison is a Jamaican scientist who has done extensive work in diabetes and is president of the University of Technology, Jamaica. He has a medical degree from the Royal University of Malta, a Masters degree from University College London, and a doctorate and two professorships from the...
.
Foundation
The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) dates its beginning from 1958, originally as the Jamaica Institute of Technology. In 1959 the name of the institution was changed to the College of Arts, Science and Technology and it became incorporated in the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST) Scheme of 1959. This was validated by an Act of Parliament in 1964. In 1986, the CAST Scheme was revised in order to make the College a degree-granting institution, and the College became legally empowered to conduct its affairs under a governing Council and Academic Board.The institution was accorded University status on September 1, 1995 as the University of Technology, Jamaica. The University of Technology, Jamaica Act 27 – 1999, which makes permanent provisions for the establishment of the University of Technology, Jamaica, was approved by Parliament on June 8, 1999 and signed into law by the Governor General on June 29, 1999.
The history of the institution is intimately connected with the social and economic development of Jamaica. From just over 50 students and four programmes in 1958, UTech has grown to become a major national institution with a student population of over 10,000. It now offers more than 50 programmes at certificate, diploma and degree levels.
Syllabuses are modelled on the English polytechnic system, with emphasis on flexibility of approach, work-based learning and professional linkages. Flexibility in its academic programmes is reflected in the various modes of course delivery, which include full-time and part-time (day release and evening) and cooperative work-based programmes. Several credit and non-credit courses are offered during the Summer Session from mid-May to August. In addition, several programmes are franchised through links with community colleges, and most programmes are linked to national and international professional organisations.
Programmes
The institution offers over 100 programmes in five faculties. These are the Built Environment, Business and Management, College of Health Sciences, Science and Sport, Engineering and Computing, Education and Liberal Arts and Law.Courses are offered at the certificate
Academic certificate
An academic certificate is a document that certifies that a person has received specific education or has passed a test or series of tests.In many countries, certificate is a qualification attained in secondary education. For instance, students in the Republic of Ireland sit the Junior Certificate...
, diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
, undergraduate
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, and post-graduate degree levels.
The Faculty of Law.
The Faculty of the Built Environment consists of the School of Building and Land Management and the Caribbean School of Architecture, the only architectural school in the English-speaking Caribbean.
The Schools of Business Administration and Hospitality and Tourism Management are in the Faculty of Business and Management.
The College of Health Sciences comprise the School of Allied Health and Nursing, School of Dental Sciences, School of Pharmacy, School of Public Health and Health Technology and the Insititute of Health and Medical Sciences.
The Faculty of Science and Sport consist of the School of Natual and Applied Sciences, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Caribbean School of Sport Sciences and the Centre for Science-based Research, Entrepreneurship and Continuing Studies.
The Schools of Computing and Information Technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
and Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
fall within the Faculty of Engineering and Computing while the Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts contains the programmes of the Department of Liberal Studies and the School of Technical and Vocational Education.