Partnership of Sandals Corporate University, Toronto Metropolitan University expands opportunities

TORONTO:

Starting the week of October 13, 100 senior managers at Sandals Resorts in Jamaica will be offered specialised executive training programmes to further enhance their skills and expertise resulting from a partnership of Sandals Corporate University (SCU) and the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM) at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).

A second cohort will also be done early in 2026, said Dr. Luz Longsworth, senior corporate director at Sandals Corporate University, who anticipates having other opportunities for staff members to do short programmes at TRSM for their own professional development.

“After conducting a needs analysis jointly with the team from SCU, we landed on five topics that would form our first round of executive education for a wide audience of 100 senior leaders from the Jamaica-based Sandals properties and head office,” said Frank Miller, executive director, Executive Education at TRSM.

The topics that will be covered, and are consistent with the strategic priorities of Sandals are: using big data for strategic decision-making, understanding your strategic direction, executive communication, mindful leadership and emotional intelligence.

In March, SCU and TRSM signed a five-year memorandum of understanding in Montego Bay that will expand opportunities for students and faculty in hospitality, tourism and business education. Both institutions will facilitate internships and placements at Sandals Resorts.

They had a signing in May in Toronto that was a specific agreement to offer a programme of executive training for Sandals senior leaders through TRSM.

Dr. Longsworth described the partnership as a deepening multifaceted collaboration with the Ted Rogers School of Management.

SCU is Sandals Resorts’ regional adult education programme that certifies staff members without formal academic qualifications and provides qualified team members with an avenue to advance their education.

SIMILAR ENGAGEMENTS

Cynthia Holmes, dean of the Ted Rogers School, said the partnership will offer many new and exciting opportunities to its students and faculty, such as co-op placements, executive education engagement and potential academic partnerships.

She said it also strengthens the school’s commitment to provide innovative and experiential education, and opportunities for transnational partnership initiatives.

“The Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University has the largest business co-op programme in Canada. Typically, students do four work terms that are four months long. The work term at Sandals will be four months long,” said Holmes.

“The agreement does not currently include opportunities for Sandals staff members to do a placement in Toronto, but Dr. Longsworth and I are hoping to continue to build this partnership over time to encompass a wide variety of collaborations.”

Provost and vice president of Toronto Metropolitan University, Dr. Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, was on hand in Montego Bay in March. She said she had the opportunity to witness Sandals’ operations firsthand, including the resort brand’s annual Prestige Awards, which honour outstanding team members, noted a press release.

Holmes and Dr. Iannacito-Provenzano were joined at the signing of the MOU by Donette Chin-Loy Chang, the Jamaica-born chancellor of TMU.

“It was clear the importance Sandals places on community and well-being. I can see that reflected in your team, and you should be really proud,” Iannacito-Provenzano expressed to Sandals Resorts’ executive chairman, Adam Stewart.

“What I saw is that people truly care for each other. We are proud to collaborate with institutions like Sandals that embody these values.”

Stewart underscored SCU’s commitment to aligning with internationally recognised universities to enhance hospitality training and create learning pathways for team members.

He expressed pride in the impact of the Sandals Corporate University on its team members not just in Jamaica, but across the Caribbean.

“This is the Caribbean dream. This company has demonstrated that what originates from the Caribbean can stand proudly on the world stage, provided we give our people the opportunity,” Stewart stated in the press release.

“Being able to create connections like this with TMU is truly impactful. On behalf of our 18,000-plus team members and the students who will benefit from exchange programmes, I say thank you for the confidence and the opportunity to collaborate with Toronto Metropolitan University.”

Sandals Corporate University has similar engagements with The UWI Global Campus and the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College. There are also collaborations that include ongoing initiatives with Florida International University and Les Roches School of Global Hospitality.