GIBBS Williams, the acting vice-principal in charge of academic affairs at G C Foster College of Physical Education and Sport, says the Maurice Wilson-led institution remains open to collaborative projects following the launch of a degree programme in tandem with Shortwood Teachers’ College.

“The partnership is a physical education and physics degree. The hope is that [Shortwood Teachers’ College] students who major in physics will come over and minor in physical education, and vice versa,” he explained after the launch at G C Foster’s base in Angels, St Catherine, on Tuesday.

Both institutions are deeply entrenched in Jamaica’s academic, sporting and professional output — Shortwood College has existed for over 130 years and GC Foster College is just over four decades old — and the objective is that the joint degree programme will produce well-rounded graduates.

Williams said the programme is to start in September, after both sides iron out the “logistics in terms of fees”, and said the projection is for “an ongoing arrangement”.

He added: “We’re not limiting ourselves and we are open to looking at other collaborations in the near future. We know there is a chronic shortage of science teachers, so we want to broaden our scope as it relates to science and physical education teachers.”

Shortwood Teachers’ College’s Acting Principal Dr Claudette Barrett-March said the programme has long been in the making.

“It’s something we really wanted to do from long ago and it perfectly fits into our strategic planning. We have been working alongside G C Foster for a long time… but this is a very strategic move to ensure that we get people trained to deliver the science in sync with the physical education,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“It’s one of those marriages made in heaven,” Barrett-March added.

Jamaica Cricket Association President Wilford “Billy” Heaven, who was guest speaker at the launch, commended both parties for the “bold venture” while underlining the benefits of the mutual arrangement.

“When we bring the resources of both institutions together we both achieve the desired outcome, and that’s the value of partnership,” said Heaven, who is also chief executive officer of the State-run Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund.

“We can’t do it alone. Partnerships bring resources together to create a whole that is bigger and better than the sum of the parts,” he reiterated.