By Janet Silvera, Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
AT A cocktail reception geared towards attracting the prestigious Nova University core, Montego Bay hoteliers came out, though few in numbers, to discuss having a cluster in Western Jamaica with the University 'big wigs' from Florida.
The movers and shakers of the tourism industry attended the function, which was held in the Trelawny Room of the Wynd-ham Rose Hall Beach Resort. Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association area chairman, Mrs. Joanne Robertson of the Coyaba hotel, Heinz Simonitsch, managing director of Half Moon, and financial controller of the Wyndham, Joe Hylton whose idea it was to have a cluster in the city, made up part of the small group that turned out.
"I believe there are a lot of people here in Montego Bay who want a degree and don't have the 'wherewithal' to go to Ocho Rios or Kingston to achieve their goals," said Mr. Hylton.
Mr. Hylton said it was only recently he learnt Nova has been in Jamaica for the past 20 years, and he found it quite alarming that they didn't have a presence in Montego Bay. This spurned his interest in inviting Dennis Dannacher, director of marketing from the Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale.
In a one-hour presentation to the hoteliers, chief administration officer, Mr. Keith Rowe who accompanied Mr. Dann-acher, expressed optimism in having a group in this region by late next year. "Our retention rate is highest in Jamaica, we are here tonight to open the awareness that Nova is ready for Montego Bay."
Already Nova has established six clusters in Kingston, six in Ocho Rios and one in Montego Bay. Locally the university offers a Masters degree programme in business administration and human resource management and a Bachelor in Science in professional management.
The university has tailor-made courses for persons in the hospitality industry, "a lot of the people who come into the hospitality programme are looking for career changes, they also want to broaden their career," said Mr. Rowe.
He said 35 to 40 per cent of the students enrolled in the bachelors programme travel from Montego Bay and Negril every other weekend, while 10 per cent are doing the Masters programme.
"The future of this country's education, gone are the days when you can get a good job. I see Nova as a good for working people, who can take time out every two weeks," said Joe Hylton.
