Humber signs agreement with University of Technology, Jamaica
Students will benefit from collaboration and international exchange opportunities through new partnership
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada –April 2– Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) in Kingston, Jamaica. Signed by Humber’s President, Dr. Chris Whitaker and Professor the Hon. Errol Morrison OJ, President, University of Technology, Jamaica; the MOU will encourage collaboration between both institutions and lead to the development of initiatives that will benefit students in Canada and Jamaica. The two institutions offer similar programs focused on strong links with industry. Dr. Carole Guntley, long standing supporter of UTech initiated the discussions with Humber professor, Cheryl Francis-Nurse, which led to the MOU.
The agreement was signed at a special ceremony during UTech’s annual School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Research and Exhibition Day held on March 27, 2014, at the University’s Papine campus. Diane Simpson, Dean of International for Humber and Susan Somerville, Dean of Humber’s School of Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism attended the event which was led by Dr. Paul Golding, Dean, College of Business and Management, UTech and Mrs. Marilyn Cornelius, Head of UTech’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Deans Simpson and Somerville participated in discussions over a two-day visit to UTech to explore collaboration opportunities, study tours, and articulation possibilities with faculty. Discussions with faculty and other stakeholders at UTech were facilitated by Dr. Claire Sutherland, Senior Director, International and Institutional Linkages at UTech.
“International partnerships like this expand the experiences of students through international transfer agreements and study abroad opportunities. Faculty gain exposure to diverse academic and professional practices by taking part in global research and the design/delivery of academic programs,” said Simpson. “We have a long history of international partnerships and strong ties with Jamaica and the Caribbean. Students from the region choose Humber because of its world-renowned reputation, diverse program offerings, and global learning opportunities,” she added.
The Hon. Errol Morrison OJ, President, University of Technology, Jamaica said “UTech continues to pursue mutually beneficial global education opportunities for our students and faculty and we welcome the potential teaching and learning opportunities afforded by this collaboration between UTech and Humber.”
With this new agreement, Humber and the University of Technology, Jamaica hope to develop further global education pathways allowing Humber staff and students the opportunity to engage in exchange initiatives and benefit from increased collaboration between these two leaders in postsecondary education.
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University of Technology, Jamaica
The history of the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) is intimately connected with the social and economic development of Jamaica. UTech has grown to become Jamaica’s premier national institution with a student population of over 14,000. It now offers more than 100 programmes at the certificate, diploma and degree levels through its three colleges and five faculties. The University has further expanded access to its programme offerings to meet the demands of business and industry by establishing campuses and satellite locations across Jamaica. In addition, several programmes are franchised through links with community colleges, and most programmes are linked to national and international professional organisations. Syllabuses are modeled on the English polytechnic system, with emphasis on flexibility of approach work-based, experiential learning and professional linkages afforded through co-operative work based programmes.
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Established in 1967, Humber is one of Canada’s leading postsecondary institutions. Committed to student success through excellence in teaching and learning, Humber serves 27,000 full-time students and 56,000 continuing education registrants. With an internationally recognized reputation for quality learning, Humber offers a wide-range of career-focused opportunities for students to personalize their educational path, including 150 full-time programs across more than 40 fields of study, 200 part-time and 400 online programs or courses. More than four out of five of Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing their studies. Visit humber.ca for more information.