Imbert: University of TT taking shape

THE CORE of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) is being formed around several institutions in TT and Government will spend approximately $600 million over the next five years to ensure that all of the UTT’s Faculties are fully operational. Addressing yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall, Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Colm Imbert said Cabinet agreed to a proposal that “a number of existing organisations be integrated into the UTT.” The institutions include the TT Institute of Technology, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), the Institute of Marine Affairs and “on a phased basis, COSTAATT at some time in the future.”

“In the first phase, the John Donaldson Technical Institute, San Fernando Technical Institute and Point Fortin Vocational Centre will be integrated into UTT when it is fully operational,” he added. Recalling that Prime Minister Patrick Manning first announced the UTT’s establishment in his October 2002 Budget presentation, Imbert disclosed that a steering committee (created to work out the UTT’s logistics) has since reported to him. “The committee has proposed and I have proposed to the Cabinet to establish the UTT as a charitable trust under the Trustee Act of 1981.

“By the  incorporation of an Act of Parliament at a later date if necessary;  the units of the UTT, in the first instance, be an institute of science, engineering and technology, comprising a school of engineering and a school of science; that there be centres of research and development including a centre for energy studies, a centre for information and communications technologies and a manufacturing and innovation centre; an institute of applied arts and humanities, comprising an academy of arts, letters and public affairs, a vocational teaching unit, a school of languages and, especially for the media, a school of journalism and media affairs. I am sure you will agree that this has long been overdue,” Imbert declared.