UCC Chancellor's Forum to build public, private sector partnerships

October 30, 2020 - A University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) Chancellor’s Forum has been launched to build and strengthen its partnerships with the public and private sector.

Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, Chancellor of the UCC, a former Governor General of Jamaica who is leading the group, said that “the Chancellor’s Forum will provide leadership and guidance to the UCC in the area of strategic development and advocacy, initiatives with the public and private sector, as well as fund-raising to strengthen the university’s viability."

Other members of Forum are: Dr Winston Adams, Founder & Group Executive Chairman, UCC; Geraldine Adams, Deputy Group Executive Chair, UCC Group of Companies; Dr Wayne Henry, Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ); Dr Angela Ramsay, President, Farquharson Institute of Public Affairs, Jamaica; Ian Randle, Founder of Ian Randle Publishers (IRP); Sherene Todd, Assistant Vice President, Regional Head of Client Advisory Services Scotia Investments Ltd.; Audrey Sewell, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation; Gary Allen, Chief Executive Officer RJRGleaner Communications Group and Dr Archibald Campbell, Board Chairman, JMMB Group Ltd.

Hall said that “COVID-19 has emphasized for us all the critical role to be played by Higher Education in the continued development of our country and the UCC Chancellor’s Forum will be a source of support to the nation’s leaders and scholars.” 

Among the planned activities of the Forum are collaborations with other institutions of Higher Education to expand the offerings of programmes available to Jamaicans at the UCC and knowledge sharing with the general public. 

At the inaugural meeting of the Chancellor’s Forum on October 15, 2020, Hall commended Dr Adams for conceptualizing the UCC to meet the needs especially of adult students, at times convenient to them and commended the existing partnerships with other institutions of Higher Education which make programmes available for Jamaicans. The Forum, he said, will work to expand these.

Adams gave an update of activities at the UCC including plans for the establishment of a publishing arm for scholarly works.  He said that the UCC is also expanding its online platforms to attract more international students since COVID-19 has reduced the potential for international students travelling to Jamaica for face to face classes. 

Chancellors Forum members recommended the pursuit of a strategic direction which focuses on strengths and capitalizes on the UCC’s distinctive characteristics. With a mission to increase access to and carrying education to more people, the Forum will also work to increase research to inform national development. 

Hall said that “the UCC is intent on providing what is required for the local market, anticipating the jobs of the future and training for relevance and this will include targeting leaders in the Board Room and customizing programmes for the public and private sector executives. The Forum will be actively supporting the development of research in order to advise Government and influence the development of policy including in areas like the environment, climate change and emerging areas for which the country consistently depends on foreign consultants."

The Chancellor’s Forum will be hosting monthly face to face presentations to its members by distinguished thought leaders to inform its programmes and a quarterly UCC Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series featuring an eminent speaker.


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