KINGSTON, Jamaica — Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona, Professor Archibald McDonald, said today that a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the UWI and the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) will serve to solidify the university’s 2017 vision.

The vision sees the university being globally recognised as a regionally integrated, innovative, internationally competitive university, deeply rooted in all aspects of Caribbean development and committed to serving the diverse people of the region and beyond, Professor McDonald noted.

“The university has been strategically positioning itself for significant development that will redound to the benefit of students, faculty and the Caribbean region as a whole. We are also a growing institution moving from 33 students in 1948 to over 15,000 today. So we have to plan for the future and we want first-class facilities,” he added.

The portfolio of infrastructural projects include the development of a Student Centre, a residential complex, a new hotel, the redevelopment and rebuilding of the University Hospital, and a co-generation plant.

The MOU also incorporates the total reconstruction of the existing residential complex for faculty members. This could include various classes of housing, ranging from stand-alone houses, town houses and apartments which will be offered to junior and senior staff as well as to members of the diplomatic community and any other activities as agreed by the parties.

The university commenced the process of constructing a co-generation plant, with the cooling component of the plant already being operational. The university has spent to date US$6 million on the plant.

Balford Henry