THE University of Technology (UTech) has built a sound academic reputation on the foundation of the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST).

Dr Alfred Sangster (1970-1996) left his stamp on the institution which, for most of its early existence, lived in the shadow of the more illustrious University of the West Indies (UWI).

CAST was initially a place for those who did not get into UWI and could not afford a foreign university. But over-time, CAST graduates came to be seen as better prepared for the workplace than the more academic UWI graduate.

Since its transformation into UTech in 1995, it has like UWI and the Northern Caribbean University (NCU), responded to a difficult economic environment with creativity.

Professor Errol Morrison (UTech), Professor Gordon Shirley (UWI) and President Herbert Thompson (NCU) must be commended for their leadership, courage and determination. UTech and UWI have both realised the public relations value and revenue generation of sports. UWI with its coup of the Reggae Boyz and its athletics track seemed to be ahead in sports development until UTech arranged to build its western campus adjoining the Trelawny Stadium.

Dr Rae Davis (1996-2006) was known for thinking big and bold. Prof Morrison, after an outstanding career as a diabetes researcher at UWI, became head of UTech and has implemented an expansive vision. Among his many innovations has been the establishment of a School of Nursing and a Law School to meet the demand unsatisfied by the limit capacity at UWI. Mr Morrison has been given a free hand by ex-Chancellor Lord Bill Morris and he has used the freedom to be innovative.

It is in this scenario that Mr Edward Seaga, a former prime minister of Jamaica, has been appointed chancellor. He faces some immediate challenges:

Mr Seaga’s certainty in the correctness of his own ideas has been both a strength and a weakness which must not constrain Prof Morrison’s expansive vision, leadership and energy.

There is the feeling in the UTech community that an octogenarian without strong academic credentials has been imposed on the university by his protégé, the education minister, without a transparent selection process.

Mr Seaga will therefore need to soothe fears that he does not have the vim, vigour and vitality demanded by the job. Or that his partisan political history will hinder the fund-raising which UTech will need to bring the western campus to fruition.

Mr Seaga will also need to adjust the style to which he has become accustomed at the UWI where he was a Distinguished Fellow. In fact, we would suggest that he would find it difficult, to say the least, to try to serve in two capacities at two universities simultaneously. It would be difficult to avoid the view that such a proposition would be seen as egregious, disrespectful and demeaning to UTech.

Of course, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the previous UTech chancellor received only expenses because the post is not a full time job.

Mr Seaga’s resignation from the UWI will also allow that institution to reallocate the cost, staff, facilities and office space previously monopolised by the former prime minister, to another former Caribbean prime minister or president to allow them to write or rewrite history.

We have no doubt that Mr Seaga can meet and overcome these challenges. He must.