KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dana Morris Dixon, is encouraging the leadership of the University of Technology (UTech) to expand on cutting-edge programmes to aid national development.

Morris Dixon made the remarks during a debriefing session following her tour of several of the university’s academic units and laboratories on Tuesday, April 15.

“UTech is important for the future and I’m hoping that our visions align because I believe that if we can get UTech to be what you all want it to be, we are going to have a transformed Jamaica,” the minister said.

While acknowledging the financial constraints faced by the university, she praised its ongoing initiatives and urged the leadership to consider expanding offerings with forward-thinking courses.

“I want students to choose UTech as a school of first choice and it’s going to mean that we need to have some cutting-edge programmes that nobody else has, which we know that there is demand for…Don’t try to be somebody else, be UTech and be cutting-edge in your area,” Morris Dixon urged the team, adding, “I’d love to see more short courses because I know that will bring a lot of people in, especially in the tech world. Certifications are a thing.”

Meanwhile, UTech President Dr Kevin Brown, thanked the minister for acknowledging the potential of the institution for the development of the country. He noted the university is not only serious about driving up student intake, but also diversifying enrolment, stating “We want to ensure that we have future-proof programmes that will attract them here.”

Acknowledging the minister’s statement, Chancellor Lloyd Carney noted, “Our strategy right now is to have students for life…as a society, we need our people to continue learning whether you get a degree or not. We need people to be intellectually curious.”

He explained that through the current and soon-to-be-introduced short courses, the university aims to upskill professionals across the architecture, information and communication technology (ICT) and other industries, so that they can be on par with the evolving demands in their respective fields and to further boost national growth.

Noting that “there is a competition in education”, Pro-Chancellor Aldrick McNab shared that given the robust and multifaceted nature of programmes at the university, its graduates end up being top professionals and industry leaders globally.

During the minister’s discussion with members of the university’s leadership team, several key matters were addressed. Among them were plans for expanding science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programmes including the introduction of short courses, upgrading of several laboratories and lecture facilities with state-of-the-art technology to enhance teaching and learning, the need for increased government funding and advancing the institution’s RESET transformation strategy, which emphasises research, expanding access, student-centeredness, entrepreneurship, and technology focus.