IUC to set up western campus in Montego Bay

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The International University of the Caribbean (IUC) has announced plans to open and operate a campus - named after former Governor General Sir Howard Cooke, also IUC's first chancellor - in the western city of Montego Bay by January 2011.

The new campus will be located on two acres of land at 18 East Street, at the old PEMCO Hotel building. Its establishment will provide easier access to tertiary-level education for students in western Jamaica.

The refurbishing cost for the first phase of the campus is $140 million, while an additional $100 million is expected to complete the project.

"Our strategic mission is to build educational communities that are committed to lifelong learning, and function as centres of resources to the community's and nation's search for meaningful solutions to the challenges of the 21st century," declared Curlin Spence-Robinson, assistant vice-president of the IUC Cornwall Region, during the press launch at Sunset Beach Resort and Spa in Montego Bay last week.

"Today marks another milestone in the manifestation of this mission."

The campus building has already been acquired, and is expected to have a 350-400 student capacity.

The IUC Foundation

Leading the campus' establishment is the IUC Foundation, a charity comprising business leaders and educators committed to supporting the university by boosting its viability.

It will offer a wide range of degree programmes at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. The Howard Cooke campus will also have counselling, business enterprise development and learning centres available to the wider community. The institution will focus especially on community development and peacemaking as part of its overall objectives.

"We, indeed, feel privileged to be in this position today, where we can share the excitement that we are experiencing; an excitement, which is born from the imminent development plan that we will share with you for the Sir Howard Cooke university campus," added Spence-Robinson.

Earl Samuels, chairman of the IUC Foundation, expressed pleasure that the Howard Cooke campus is on the way to completion.

"I am delighted that tertiary education, especially at the university level, is no longer concentrated in the Corporate Area," said Samuels. "This is a historic occasion for the IUC. It is the university which is poised to make a difference."

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com