Northern Caribbean University (NCU) has received endorsement from the business sector for its new suite of short courses, which have been developed from labour-market information provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security along with HEART/NSTA Trust.
The suite of short courses include Apiculture or Beekeeping, Digital Animation, Digital Entrepreneurship, Digital Marketing, Inventive Home Gardening, Innovative Technologies in Agriculture, Mobile Application Creator, Mobile Game Design and Solar Systems Developer. The NCU Business and Career Plus Short Courses were launched virtually by NCU President, Professor Lincoln Edwards on June 23, 2022.
Speaking at the launch, President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Simone Spence-Johnson described the courses as “ripe and ready for the picking.” She noted that the courses were flexible and easy to access, and encouraged all to invest in themselves, in their businesses, and keep on improving. “Take advantage of the golden opportunity. Sign up for a course today,” she appealed to the virtual audience.
The FosRich Group of Companies has also endorsed the NCU Business and Career Plus Short Courses. Spokesman Steven Spencer welcomed the Solar Systems Developer short course, noting that Fosrich has embarked on projects to improve renewable energy and energy efficiency in Jamaica with the latest in solar technologies.
“Our relationship with NCU dates way back and we will continue, in the spirit of this relationship, to provide, where possible, both employment opportunities and apprenticeship or internship opportunities to participants in applicable short courses,” said Mr Spencer on behalf of CEO, Cecil Foster.
In launching the market-diven short courses, Professor Lincoln Edwards stated that the training was aimed at equipping persons with new skills to foster employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. He indicated the willingness of NCU to work with the commercial and industrial sectors to train and upgrade the human capital in mid-island Jamaica and beyond utilising micro-credentials and the stacking up of qualification in a modular manner.
Professor Edwards further mentioned that the courses related to targeted industries which are areas of focus in Jamaica’s 2030 Vision Development Plan including information and communication technology, agriculture, creative industries and construction. He highlighted the benefits of market-driven training, which include:
- the ability to boost one’s employment prospects in areas of demand,
- reducing under-employment
- maximising one’s own skills
- reduction of barriers to employment
- ensuring that the Jamaican workforce can respond to international and local demands, and to
- reduce frustration due to unemployment caused by job saturation in certain sectors of the labour market.
The Business and Career Plus short courses are being offered through the following departments of NCU: the Morris Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), the College of Natural and Applied Science, Allied Health and Nursing (CNASAHN) and the Vocational Education and Training Empowerment Institute (VEETI). NCU Projects Manager, Donovon Jones gave details on each short course. Each lasts a few weeks and are affordably priced. The courses are mostly delivered in a blended format, that is, with sessions being online and in-person. He said the courses offer skills for occupations in entrepreneurship, agriculture, science and the creative industry.
In her greetings, Executive Director of the Morris Entrepreneurship Centre, Hazel Wright O’Connor, highlighted that the courses and services of the Centre were part of the outreach of NCU to develop surrounding communities and the nation. She reported that the Centre has provided intervention programmes in entrepreneurship to communities such as Canaan Heights in May Pen, Rae Town in Western Kingston, Granville and Retirement in St James.
The launch can be seen at this link:
Learn more at https://discover.ncu.edu.jm/
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