THE Mico University College, after a successful staging of the first International Mathematics Teaching Summit, started celebrations for its annual Mico Week on Sunday.

“In former years Mico concentrated on three major events during the week but for the first time has incorporated its Culturama activities within the week of celebrations,” the university college said in a release yesterday.

The annual activities kicked off with a church service Sunday at the Enos Nuttall Lecture Theatre, and the week will culminate Saturday with a Culturama Bonfire.

Graduate of the batch that entered Mico in 1978 and current vice-president of academic affairs, Prof Carol Clarke, encouraged all alumni, students and staff to be part of the event. “We wanted to find an avenue for a wider cross section of students to support, and so we agreed to merge Culturama (which is mostly a student-centred event) with Mico Week.”

In reflecting on the importance of the week, she said, “Mico Week is usually that week we set aside to reflect, introspect, pause and give thanks as we remember the founders, and those who laid the foundation and whose contribution from which we continue to reap.”

“One of those persons who comes to mind is the late Prof Claude Packer who revolutionised the Mathematics Department, thus enabling Mico to be one of the leaders in mathematics education,” said Clarke.

Two of the major activities for the week of celebrations are the Glen Owen Lecture and the Founders’ Day Service of Thanksgiving.

The Glen Owen Lecture, sponsored by the TIP Friendly Society this year, is held every year in honour of Glen Owen who, 60 years ago, was principal of the institution. This year Dr Canute S Thompson will present the lecture focusing on the theme, “Leadership Re-imagination and Governance, Imperatives for the Advancement of a Transformative Education System.” He is head of the Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning, housed at The School of Education, UWI, Mona campus.

“The Founders’ Day Service is a celebration of the return of the batch that went to Mico 20 years ago. The service is a coming together of the younger students and their seniors; those who have retired and those who currently serve. It is an opportunity to engage and rekindle; and for the alumni, to give back through scholarships or other donations, to their alma mater,” said the release.