UTT’s historic graduation

Addressing the graduates at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port-of-Spain, UTT Chairman Curtis R Manchoon said the “deliberate integration of Business and Technology into Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes (was) designed to provide students with the best tools for meeting the demands of an ever-evolving society.”

Manchoon explained that combining instructional methodologies such as multi-disciplinary projects and problem-based learning across all academic disciplines to empower UTT’s graduates.

“This seamless academic integration across programmes is designed to provide students with the best tools for meeting the demands of an ever-evolving society,” he said.

Referring to the global thrust toward entrepreneurial-driven job creation, Manchoon told the 2012 graduates that by exploring their entrepreneurial capabilities, they could have an impact on this country’s economic development.

“Our intention is to absorb many of you with the business ideas and acumen, within our University business accelerators, which we will launch in the first quarter of next year. Plans are already in place for supporting start-ups in animation and fashion,” Manchoon stated.

UTT is also seeking to commercialise the doctoral theses of five candidates in Petroleum Engineering, Process and Utilities Engineering, and Entrepreneurship and Commercial Studies.

“I can assure you that their work will not remain on library shelves,” Manchoon revealed, “as several patents have already been registered and we will be pursuing the commercialisation of these innovations. We also recognise our first Master of Philosophy graduate who would have conducted critical research in the area of Animal Science.”

UTT’s plans for 2013 include aviation as well. Having signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) this year with “leading international Universities and other local companies”, Manchoon said the university would be developing programmes in areas such as Aviation Technology, Maritime, Petroleum, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Port Skills. Tobago was not forgotten in the Chairman’s speech. He told graduates UTT’s Tobago Campus was in the final stages of completion on the Waterfront in Scarborough.