The UCC Advantage
The UCC Advantage
Breaking New Frontiers in Higher Education!
Unique Advantages
Underpinning the culture of the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) is a commitment to working closely with individuals, organizations and other stakeholders in the education sector to ensure that the relevant skills are acquired for the development of vibrant business and organizational cultures.
In 2002, the Institute of Management Sciences (IMS) merged with the Institute of Management & Production (IMP), to form UCC, the largest privately-held higher education consortium in Jamaica. Building on the attributes and strengths of each entity, UCC has some unique advantages that bring tangible values to its clients and ensure its continued cost-effectiveness and success.
Additionally, the institution believes that joint venture approaches, such as that between UCC and Florida International University, University of London and the Commonwealth of Learning, with local and international “hands on” experience in management, provides clients with the highest quality service. The design of training programmes is built on five principles that UCC believes will help assure the further success of its programmes.
1 Client-centred Outcomes:
UCC knows the strategic importance that customized programmes can have for its clients. Its highest priorities are to better understand its business, roles, and functions as public entities, translate those functions and objectives into clear learning and action outcomes, and build learning opportunities and experiences that meet those outcomes.
2 Flexibility and Responsiveness:
Programme content reflects students’ needs and therefore, is flexible and responsive. Content provided by local and overseas training consultants is integrated with that provided by the UCC in many instances and adapted to participants’ needs as the programmes evolved over time. This has been done with great care and appreciation for the quality imperative.
3 Relevance Beyond the Training Room:
An important feature of UCC’s programmes is that courses are delivered by practitioners and academics. Very often both emphases are located in lecturers. UCC focuses on engaging the best presenters, whether academic or industry experts. All trainers are seasoned professionals with relevant experience in corporate-level education and consulting. UCC knows that skilled consultants and industry experts, along with company leaders, deliver a highly relevant mix of theory and practice.
4Positive Learning Environments
Another feature of UCC’s programmes is their highly interactive nature. Learning should be a positive experience. Presenters reflect this in their use of lectures, discussion, simulations, group exercises, case studies, individual and team assignments that require in-class presentations. Where relevant and appropriate, PC-based exercises are used. Readings and case assignments are usually required prior to, during, and after each programme.
5 Working at Three Levels:
Perhaps the most notable feature of UCC programmes is the “Learning Pyramid.” This model is used as the basis for programme design. The basic premise is that programmes must work at three critical levels: Building Critical Competencies as a Foundation, Providing Essential Business Knowledge, and Nurturing a Strategic Mindset. This is the focus of all programmes regardless of the participant’s management level or functional area. The task is to assure that every presenter incorporates content and practices that address all three levels.
The outstanding cadre of UCC presenters, the rich and varied backgrounds of participants, and the integration of in-class learning with practical, on-the-job applications will continue to create an educational experience of great depth and breadth.
