KINGSTON, Jamaica — The University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica has been approved as a study centre for the delivery of Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) qualifications with effect from March 10.

As an approved CIPS Study Centre UTech will provide CIPS qualifications for the Diploma in Procurement and Supply (Level 4), the university disclosed in a release today.

According to Chantal Rogers, CIPS Awarding Body Manager, “CIPS values the commitment of approved study centres in ensuring that procurement professionals worldwide are trained to the highest standards.” CIPS Professional Standards and Regulation Team will carry out annual monitoring of the delivery of the CIPS qualification.

UTech’s approval as a CIPS study centre follows from the award of a contract in April 2016 by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the World Bank to undertake a feasibility study for the establishment of a Caribbean Regional Procurement Training Centre at its Papine campus.    

The procurement centre is expected to be operational by late 2017.  It will provide high quality training services initially focussing on training for public procurement professionals in the Caribbean, UTech said.  

The contract was awarded following a rigorous competitive process led by the consultancy arm of the College of Business and Management and the School of Graduate Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship (SGSRE), University of Technology, Jamaica.

President, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, in welcoming the announcement by CIPS of UTech as an approved study centre for delivery of CIPS qualifications said that “the University of Technology, Jamaica is committed to delivering on the intended objectives of the study centre”, adding that the University was pleased to be “delivering value to Caribbean governments in transforming public procurement and developing a cadre of qualified public procurement professionals across the region.”