About Us

UCC History

Breaking New Frontiers in Higher Education!

Opportunity Grasped

In the early 1990s, Jamaica was faced with what seemed then to be an insoluble problem. The country was losing thousands of young, ambitious individuals who sought higher education opportunities overseas because there were not many recognised higher education programmes on the island for further development through formal training.

Studying overseas was an expensive option only available to a few Jamaicans who could afford to do so. In addition, the country was losing a number of trained persons seeking employment opportunities overseas; this was costing the government more to train and recruit additional personnel.  Mr. Winston Adams, formerly a chemical process engineer at Petrojam, saw a great entrepreneurial opportunity and recognised that something had to be done to provide accessible, high quality and flexible higher education training programmes to Jamaicans in urban and rural areas of the country.  His vision resulted in the formation of the Institute of Management Sciences (IMS), which grew to become one of the most respected private higher education institutions in Jamaica.

Incorporated in January 1992, IMS was a self-supporting, higher education institution, governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the executive body.

Expansion of Programme Offerings

Between 1992 and 1997, IMS successfully developed and offered a two-year Associate of Science degree programme in Business Administration at five regional training centres in the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Ann and St. James. The programme was supported and initially developed in conjunction with Dalhousie University, in Canada. Classes were held mainly on weekends, and several batches of students, from each of the regional centres, successfully completed the programme and graduated.

Many of the graduates were accepted into baccalaureate and later, graduate degree programmes offered by local and overseas institutions including the University of the West Indies, University of Technology, Nova Southeastern University, Barry University, and Northern Caribbean University.  The successful delivery of this credit programme required an intensive network of administrative, clerical and lecture staff at the respective sites. Centre Managers were formally appointed to effectively coordinate and administer each centre and the local programme offerings, in direct consultation and collaboration with other officers and directors based at the central secretariat in Kingston.

Accreditation

IMS grew to become one of the top three private higher education institutions in Jamaica, having gained recognition through registration from the local accrediting body, the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) and full matriculation status from the University of the West Indies. The Institute’s Associate Degree in Business Administration programme was accredited by the UCJ.

Offerings at various centres soon grew to include three certificate-level programmes, seven professional diploma programmes, two associate of science degrees in business administration, and management information systems.   Graduates from both IMS and IMP number over 60,000 persons at all programme levels including short courses, certificates, diplomas and degree programmes (both local and international).   These persons are making a difference in their organisations and the country at large.
Alliances and Partnerships

In 1996, IMS began forming unique local and international alliances that became integral to its success in Jamaica. Corporate partnerships and trade exchange arrangements were formed with Sandals Resorts International for hotel accommodation for local and overseas faculty, Air Jamaica and Air Jamaica Express for local and international travel, the British Executive Services Overseas, in the UK for management consultancy, CVM television, the Gleaner Company, and the Jamaica Observer for advertising and promotions.

Between 1997 and 2000, other international partnerships were formed with the Florida International University, Howard University, the University of Florida, Penn State University and the London College of Management.  In 2000, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (weekend) with the University of North Florida was added. Again responding to the demands of the Jamaican market, this undergraduate programme was introduced to satisfy the need of eligible mid-level working adults in the business sector.   In 2002/3, other partnerships were formed with Digital Transtec Limited and Florida State University.

In addition, membership was sought and obtained in prestigious local and international umbrella organisations such as the Joint Committee on Tertiary Education, the American Council on Education, the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions, the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica, the Jamaica Computer Society, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce and the Jamaica Association of Training and Development.

Florida International University

The Executive Master’s in Business Administration programme (weekend) was introduced in 1998 in collaboration with Florida International University, based in Miami. This decision provided the launching pad for a significant phase of IMS’ further growth. The first FIU cohort consisted of an unprecedented 78 students recruited from corporate Jamaica as well as the wider populace. The FIU EMBA degree programme, shortly after its introduction, gained great momentum and another large cohort was added within a year, and a third in September 2001.

Six months later, another bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management was established in Montego Bay in conjunction with the highly reputable FIU School of Hospitality Management. In order to satisfy the needs of qualified managers and other mid-professionals in computer information/technology sectors, the FIU bachelor’s degree in Computer Science was also launched in Montego Bay and Kingston.

Executive Development Courses

With the growing number of undergraduate and graduate level programmes in Jamaica, small and large corporations were beginning to express the need for shorter, in-house executive-type training programmes tailored to meet the needs of middle and senior executives. Some short courses and seminars, generally of two to three days duration, were developed and offered in response to specific corporate training needs.  Some short courses were also identified as upgrading or introductory level courses for some participants.

In 1999-2000, IMS formed other alliances with the University of Florida, Howard University, and Penn State University to offer a series of two/three-day executive training courses to corporate Jamaica and the wider community. Topics include Strategic Project Management, Finance for Non-Financial Managers, Marketing and Sales, Leading Organisational Change, Strategic Cost Reduction, and Improving Customer Service. These tailor-made courses were offered in both Kingston and Montego Bay.

IMS Acquisition of IMP

In October of 2002, IMS purchased the Institute of Management & Production (IMP).  IMP was established in 1976 as the training institute of the ICD Group of Companies.  In 1978, IMP expanded its role by offering educational and professional services (consulting, research and marketing) to the business community in Jamaica and the Caribbean. The merger of IMS and IMP formed one of the largest privately held tertiary education institutions in Jamaica. With combined resources and experience, the new entity, renamed IMS/IMP, was better able to provide a wider array of higher quality programmes, aiming to satisfy the needs of students and clients alike with the combined experiences in business education and training.

The Institutes, considered to be premier training providers in Jamaica, offered a variety of degrees, diplomas, and certificates and professional courses to the general public as well as customised courses to our corporate clients.  IMP also delivered several similar training programmes funded by international agencies, for both the private and public sectors.  Some of these include the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)/Government of Jamaica (GOJ)- ENACT Project, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/ National Resources Conservation Agency (NRCA) – Development of Environmental Management Organisations (DEMO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Ministry of Local Government, Youth and Community Development, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) – Youth Leadership Programme for leaders of inner -city communities.  It has also provided training in specific areas such as Project Management to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce in association with the New Economy Project (NEP) and USAID, and the Jamaica Private Power Company.

Establishment of the University College of the Caribbean

In January 2004, the plans for the establishment of the University College of the Caribbean, as the new corporate identity for IMS/IMP, as well as its logo were presented at a formal unveiling ceremony.  Effectively, IMS/IMP operated as subsidiaries of this new parent entity.  Between 2004 and 2010, UCC developed its profile as an independent comprehensive post-secondary institution and gradually increased its programme offerings from certificates through bachelor’s degrees and higher degrees. The strategic plan for the UCC, also seeks to gradually establish it as a regional platform in the Caribbean for the export and import of higher education services and programmes offered by its two main overseas affiliates, the Florida International University and the University of London.

Essentially, the aims and objectives of the UCC, therefore, are to firmly position the institution as a centre of excellence distinguished by a wide variety of programmes at all levels of the academic spectrum; to align the institution in order to ensure that it embodies new, emerging and changing trends in order; to remain a relevant and viable option for higher education in Jamaica and the region; and finally to benchmark the institution against professional practices and international standards.

In early 2005 UCC launched the Distance Education and Global Learning (DEGL) initiative. A project designed to make tertiary studies as easily accessible as a television set. This would be accomplished through a hybrid distance learning modality employing video delivered lectures with periodic classroom tutorials and exams to enable students unable to attend a typical university campus to pursue their studies.

Current Programme Offerings

The UCC bachelors’ degree programme offerings now include Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Information Technology, Marketing, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and a major in Accounting and Finance.  UCC is also a partner institution with University of London for the Bachelor of Laws and the Diploma in Law.  Associate degrees are offered in Business Administration, Management Information Systems, Accounting and Finance, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and Production and Operations Management.

At the Masters’ level UCC offers two Executive masters’ degrees in association with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL); these are the Commonwealth Executive Master of Business Administration (CEMBA) and the Commonwealth Executive Master of Public Administration (CEMPA).   UCC also facilitates the delivery of three Masters’ degrees in conjunction with the Florida International University (FIU). These programmes are designed to serve and meet the training needs of the entire spectrum of both public and private sector organisations throughout Jamaica.

Corporate Education and Consultancy Services

 

The University College of the Caribbean prides itself in offering high quality education, both at the credit and non credit levels. The success of the Corporate Education Unit is largely attributed to the institution’s ability to conduct detailed training needs analysis and the development of programmes to suit the needs of all clients.   In addition to its regularly scheduled courses, the Corporate Education Unit will facilitate company training either at the client’s location or at UCC’s.  

Quality Assurance & Accreditation

During its rapid growth, IMS was cognizant of its responsibility for quality assurance in the delivery of all undergraduate and graduate degree programmes, including those offered directly by its international partners. Although the institution was registered and recognized by the local accrediting body, the UCJ, the institution voluntarily sought and obtained further recognition and matriculation status for its associate degree in business administration programme from the University of the West Indies.

UCC has built on the traditions and commitments of both IMS and IMP to quality assurance.  The institution was registered by the UCJ in 2007 and shortly thereafter submitted a number of programmes for first-time accreditation: bachelors’ degrees in Business Administration, Information Technology, and Marketing; as well as the associate degree in Management Information Systems.  The bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management (IMP) and the associate in Business Administration (IMS) were previously accredited and were submitted in the name of UCC.  The UCJ re-accredited the latter two degrees and formally announced that it had granted accreditation to the others in December 2009.

In 2010 the UCJ reviewed the Commonwealth Executive Masters’ degrees for accreditation; UCC awaits the reports and decision of that entity.  The two FIU business degrees are accredited by the UCJ and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), while the master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction is accredited by the first two entities just listed plus the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). 

Corporate Facts
	Headquarters:			17 Worthington Avenue, Kingston 5, Jamaica, W.I.
	Industry:			Tertiary Education
	Founded:			2004
	Financial Status:			Stable / Profitable
	Founder/Chairman:			Winston Adams
	Training and Services:			Open Entry Certificates, Diplomas, Associate and Bachelor Degrees’ Programmes, Master’s Degree Programmes, Consultancy Services, Outreach Education Centres
	Enrolled Students:			4,800 (2010)
	Graduated Students:			over 60,000 (combined institution IMS and IMP)
	Website:			http://www.ucc.edu.jm