University of Technology makes inroads into secondary schools

Karrie Williams, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The University of Technology (UTech) is making inroads throughout secondary schools across Jamaica, collaborating to provide preparatory courses to students for matriculation into tertiary-level programmes.

The initiative, which has been ongoing for several years, has now earned UTech a strong presence in several high schools and community colleges throughout Westmoreland, Hanover, St James and Trelawny, and St Ann.

UTech works closely with many schools, providing training to teachers on how to instruct students to prepare them for tertiary-level education.

The William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, Usain Bolt's alma mater, is notably one of UTech's success stories.

Currently, the institution works in partnership to offer a training and certification programme to both internal and external students.

UTech also offers job-performance courses and continuing education. Continuing education is offered full-time through the university's academy based at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

CUTTING-EDGE programmes

"We think we are cutting-edge, in terms of continuing education and short courses geared at enhancing job performance …. We keep in touch with professions in terms of what is current and keeping up with changing standards, and we also take the programmes into workplaces so employees do not lose any work time," said principal of UTech's Western Campus, Professor Geraldine Hodelin.

The UTech academy was specifically established to better prepare students for entrance into the university's science-based programmes.

At present, a number of courses, including English, mathematics, pharmacy, and engineering, are offered through the academy.