THE University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) has now been formally registered by the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (J-TEC) as a teaching university, effective July 2022.

Making the announcement, Professor Dennis J Gayle, president of the UCC, said "We are very pleased to have satisfied J-TEC's detailed inspection and due diligence processes and to have received this registration status as a result. This adds to the recognition of higher education quality already earned by the UCC including registration and institutional accreditation from the national accreditation body — the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ); institutional accreditation from the UK-based quality assurance body — Accreditation Services for International Schools, Colleges and Universities; as well as recognition from the University of London and Sunderland University, which are both located in the UK, and Florida International University in the USA."

"The UCC voluntarily submits to a continuous series of assessments by qualified local and international bodies while also implementing a robust internal quality assurance and enhancement system, as we work assiduously to ensure our programmes and facilities are of the highest possible standards," Gayle said.

J-TEC has been mandated by the Cabinet of Jamaica to undertake the registration and regulation of all institutions offering tertiary-level educational qualifications within Jamaica. Accordingly, J-TEC undertakes inspection and the associated assessment of all aspects of an institutional establishment's operations and levels of qualifications against established standards.

Registration by J-TEC indicates that an institution has attained the minimum standards to operate and deliver the programmes and awards and facilitate the appropriate qualifications in keeping with the application for registration.

J-TEC's registration covers more than 35 degree programmes offered by the UCC, including several of current national relevance including undergraduate, graduate and master's degrees in hospitality and tourism management; executive masters degrees in business administration and public administration; and Master of Business Administration ((MBA) in Accounting, Finance and Health-Care Management.