UCC Re-Awarded ASIC Premier International Institutional Accreditation Status for 2025–2029
Photo 1: Professor Colin Gyles, CD, President, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC)
Photo 2: Professor Bernadette Warner, PhD., Deputy President at University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC)
Kingston, Jamaica, May 16, 2025 – The University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) proudly announces that it has once again been awarded Premier Institutional Accreditation Status by the United Kingdom-based Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC), following a successful re-accreditation process. This renewed recognition, effective from January 5, 2025, through January 4, 2029, marks the university’s fourth consecutive term receiving ASIC’s highest commendation, a distinction UCC has maintained since 2017.
The ASIC accreditation is a globally respected quality assurance mark in international education. The award of Premier Status confirms that UCC continues to meet rigorous international standards in governance, academic delivery, student welfare, infrastructure, and institutional sustainability. The comprehensive external review praised UCC’s strengths in governance, learning and research practices, student services, and the institution’s emphasis on inclusive, ethical operations.
According to Professor Bernadette Warner, PhD., Deputy President at UCC, “This re-accreditation reflects the strength of our academic governance and our unwavering commitment to quality assurance at every level of the institution. It affirms UCC’s position as a leading private university meeting global benchmarks in higher education”. Professor Colin Gyles, CD, President of UCC, added, “Being re-accredited by ASIC is more than a validation of our practices—it is a reaffirmation of our standing as a premier private university delivering transformative education. In a landscape where private institutions often face scrutiny, this recognition signals our commitment to global standards and innovation-driven growth.”
This milestone comes at a time of exceptional momentum for the institution. UCC was recently honoured at the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Future Cities Awards in Abu Dhabi, winning the Smart Infrastructure category for its EcoVista Jamaica project. The appointment of globally respected AI expert, Professor John MacIntyre, as UCC’s new Chancellor, also underscores the university’s forward-looking vision. Additional recent highlights include the opening of a new campus in Morant Bay, international scholarship expansions, and the conferral of honourary doctorates at the 2024 Commencement Ceremony to esteemed figures such as Sir Richard Branson, Adam Stewart, Dr. Patricia Smith, and the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, OJ, CD, MP.
As the only non-affiliated private university in Jamaica to hold institutional accreditation from both the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) and ASIC—and with registration and recognition from the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (JTEC)—UCC continues to stand at the forefront of higher education in the Caribbean.
