UCC Research Conference Features New Development for the Institution
Professor Evan Duggan, Senior Director of Research (left) with Professor Dennis J. Gayle, President and Executive Chancellor of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean following the launch of the Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre at UCC’s main campus on Thursday (September 26).
Kingston, October 1, 2019 –The President and Executive Chancellor of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, Professor Dennis J. Gayle, has described the just concluded Annual Academic Research Conference as a “watershed moment for UCC”. The institution welcomed the first cohort of students in the University of Sunderland’s doctoral programmes and launched its Innovation Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre along with an Academic Journal, which shares a similar name.
17 Students started the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) and the Professional Doctorate (DProf) programmes, both of which are being taught at the UCC’s main campus in Kingston by visiting professors from the UK based University of Sunderland.
Speaking at the Opening Session of the conference on September 25, Professor Gayle said, “The conference, being held under the theme, ‘Developing Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology for Global Competitiveness’, represents a watershed moment for UCC. Innovation is a process through which ideas become successful products and services. Innovation occurs everywhere, not only in a laboratory, and its outcomes assume many forms, from products— goods and services—to businesses and organisational models.”
The UCC Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre constitutes an enriching space for interested students and faculty members at the University – a shared space characterised by collaborative creativity and experiments with ideas for business projects.
According to Professor Bernadette Warner, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at UCC, “the Centre has the potential to turn promising ideas into flourishing businesses that can contribute to Jamaica’s economic growth and development.”
The Centre is open to students and faculty and is expected to enhance their education and applied research.
Meanwhile, the Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Journal, which was launched by Professor Evan Duggan, Senior Director of Research at UCC, represents a critical element by UCC to engage its faculty members and counterpart researchers in research networks that are particularly relevant to its graduate programmes of study.
“A major objective of the Journal is to allow UCC’s academics to present their work and develop collaborative research efforts, both within UCC and with scholars from other institutions in order to create alliances to improve their work and outputs,” said Professor Duggan.
The initial volume of the Journal will include research that was presented at the conference.
The 3rd Annual Academic Research Conference was held from September 25-26 and was sponsored by Advantage General Insurance Company Limited, Fujitsu Jamaica and National Baking Company.
