THE five-year-old International University of the Caribbean (IUC) is set for a massive expansion in the future, according to president, Reverend Dr Maitland Evans.

The institution, which is affiliated with the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, will be depending on its alumni to spread the word about its offerings while it seeks to increase its full-time cohort.

“We intend to expand significantly, drawing on unutilised space (in) our full-time day programme. We do not have to drive one nail to get new facilities. The facilities are in place, overcrowded in the evening and underutilised in the day. We are going to close that gap, and we ask for your support in the process,” said Evans at the institution’s recent graduation ceremony, held last month at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.

Meanwhile, in the president’s report, the reverend disclosed that 1,200 new continuing education students had been recruited for the 2009/10 academic year which he said “augurs well for the future”. Other highlights of the report included the launch of the institution’s Snow Hill campus in Portland and the full registration of the nursing programme at the Mel Nathan College by the Nursing Council of Jamaica.

A total of 370 people graduated from the IUC in November with bachelor’s degrees, diplomas and certificates in a range of disciplines, including theology, psychology, guidance and counselling, primary education, community development, business administration and programme and project management.

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Robert Montague, commended the IUC for its achievements during its short existence and indicated that Prime Minister Bruce Golding wanted to personally assist the institution with its further growth.

“He (Golding) knows of the space you have for your daytime campuses. He knows of your need to fill that space. Therefore, he asked me to tell you, Mr Chancellor (former Governor General Howard Cooke), to tell the president to sit down and speak with him,” noted Montague who was guest speaker at the event.

He added that the prime minister wished to discuss the training of more health sector workers by the IUC.