Michael Davis of the University of London explains courses offered at his institution to these students of the Glenmuir High School, at yesterday's UK University and College Expo held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

BRITISH Universities have joined their American counterparts in aggressively recruiting Jamaicans in search of higher education options.

Yesterday, seven such universities and colleges were among the 15 higher education institutions showcasing their various programmes on the first day of the inaugural 'UK University and College Expo' held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. The expo is a collaboration between the British Council and the Jamaican-based Study Rite UK.

Already a handful of UK universities such as the University of London have been offering their programmes through local institutions like the Institute of Management Science, with other schools like the Cambridge International College offering their programmes through distance learning.

But more institutions like the London Metropolitan University - a two year-old institution formed out of a merger between the University of North London and London Guildhall University, could get onboard.

"Yes, that's a possibility," confirmed representative Vanessa Johnson, although noting that further information would have to come from senior members of the university's staff
Hundreds of high school students, particularly those in fifth and sixth forms as well as a handful of adults, turned up for the expo.

Aside from the seven British universities, the expo also featured local institutions, including the University of Technology (UTech), University College of the Caribbean and Heart Trust.

Yesterday, Gary Williams, the British council's education manager said the expo was in response to increased requests about study in the UK and part of the council's quest to promote higher education.

He said the council received just under 1,000 such requests last year.

"Our work is two-fold where we try to better the quality of education here through linkages," Williams told the Observer. "We also want to let them know that the UK is a very good place to study, even though there may be challenges to the cost."

The institutions had on show, both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, from nursing to the arts, humanities, business and other technical degrees. UK-based agencies like Resource Development International tried to lure the students with their distance learning programmes from institutions such as the University of Leicester,
University of Sunderland, Liverpool Johnson Moores University and Edexel, while the local Caribbean Aviation Centre impressed many youngsters with their flying programmes. A few signed up for the latter's one-hour "discovery flight".

The UTech programmes were a major draw for scores of students, some of whom made on-the-spot applications.

"They are mostly interested in our business programmes," explained one of the university's marketing representatives, Khalia Wright. "Some signed up, and a lot more made requests because they are still not sure what they want to do."

But students like lower sixth form Wolmerians Monique Weise and Lisa-Kay Lawrence were particularly impressed with the hospitality management programmes at Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies.
"They are very organised," said Monique.

"And the information is self-explanatory," interjected Lisa-Kay.

"We have collected application forms because that's our area but we have to do our A' Levels first," added Monique.

"Our programmes are so designed for persons who want to specialise in these areas, it's a specialist institution," said lecturer Beverly McMahon.

Susan Rhoden-Smith, who was among the handful of adults, was in search for a programme in humanities. The University of London seemed to match her desires.

"I was looking at languages, I want to teach a foreign language; in addition I want to make myself marketable," she explained.

"They seem to be the only group here that offer such programme, through distance learning which is a plus," she told the Observer.

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