The Honourable Minister of Education, Mr Edison Baird attended a meeting at the Anguilla Community College (ACC) last week with a delegation from University of Technology (UTECH) Jamaica to discuss a mutually beneficial partnership between the two institutions.

The UTECH delegation was led by Professor Errol Morrison President of UTECH, accompanied by Professor Gossett Oliver – Vice President for Graduate Studies and Mr Hector Wheeler, Director of Advancement. Members of the ACC Board of Governors Mrs Rhona Richardson-Roydon, Chairperson, Vice-Chair Mrs Rosena Brooks, Mr Carlye Rogers and Vanburn Brookes as well as the ACC Executive Management Team participated in last week’s negotiations that grew out of an initial meeting and reciprocal visits in 2009/2010 during the tenure of Mrs Dawn Reid, the then Coordinator of the Community College Development Unit, the precursor entity to the ACC.

The strategic plan of the ACC developed and approved by the Board of Governors allows for the establishment of linkages and collaboration with education providers in the Caribbean.

The proposed partnership between ACC and UTECH provides an excellent opportunity to leapfrog Anguilla’s first local tertiary education institution into offering solid associate degree and/or bachelor’s degree programmes; especially in Marketing, Human Resources and Entrepreneurship; along with professional development certification (particularly focusing on nursing and teacher education), a range of technical and vocational programming as well as the traditional ‘Sixth Form’ options. Students registered at ACC will have access to a wide range of quality courses in an environment that is both cost effective and fully accredited. It is also expected that UTECH will provide Technical Assistance to the Board of Governors of ACC with respect to the design, and construction of the new campus site at Long Path. On the other hand, ACC offers UTECH an opportunity to establish a presence in the Eastern Caribbean and to grow the university’s international profile.

In addition, to the formal negotiations, some 40 Graduates of the College of Arts Science and Technology CAST/UTECH attended a reception hosted by the ACC at Zenaida Café. It is hoped that an Alumni association can be launched in in Anguilla in the near future that will foster the partnership between the University of Technology and the Anguilla Community College in a practical.

- Press Release

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