$600M for University of TT

Plans to establish the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) have been approved and government has agreed that its $600 million in funding will come from contributions by the state, private individuals and the private sector. Cabinet gave its final approval along with a number of other critical issues including the start of classes in September 2004, last Thursday, following the recommendation of Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, Colm Imbert, according to a release from the Ministry.

Of that figure, $50 million will provide for temporary accommodation for the administration of UTT; construction of student residences, classrooms and laboratories; rental and/or refurbishment of buildings to accommodate students entering UTT programmes in September and the design of permanent buildings and facilities over the fiscal period 2003/2004. For the fiscal year 2004/2005, $100 million will be provided for operations and start-up costs and for 2004-2008, $450 million will be provided in capital expenditure in the Development Programme. Cabinet has also agreed that a number of existing public tertiary level institutions will be integrated into UTT including Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology (TTIT), Metal Industries Company (MIC), Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), and Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA).

The integration of the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts (COSTAATT) will take place on a phased basis, with the JSDTI, SFTI and Pt Fortin Vocational Centre in phase one. In the first instance, UTT will consist of four units, namely the Institute of Science, Engineering and Technology (ISET); Student Services Unit; Continuing Education and Community Outreach Unit and Institute of Applied Arts and Humanities. Programmes which will be introduced in September at UTT, TTIT campus, are MSc in Exploration and Production; Bachelor of Technology in Electrical, Mechanical, and Process and Utility Engineering; Petroleum and Engineering; and Information Systems.

Other programmes include a Diploma in Technology, and a degree in Offshore Technologies at Master’s and Bachelor’s level. Cabinet has also agreed that alliances will be formalised between UTT and ISE of Madrid, Spain, Southampton Institute of UK, Faculty of Engineering, UWI and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada.