UCCI partnership offers free TVET degrees overseas

(CMR) The University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) has signed an agreement with the New England Institute of Technology, a university located in Rhode Island, USA, giving students the opportunity to study in several important areas at no cost to them.

The agreement will allow students to continue their technical education in areas that the UCCI does not offer degrees. This will start with electrical, construction management, and cyber security, areas that are expected to be of great benefit to the Cayman Islands because of their demand.

New England offers degrees programs from associate up to master degrees. They also offer a PhD program.

“We are looking to continue an international partnership that we had with the Cayman Islands pre-COVID. We enjoyed students coming to New England Tech to continue their technical education. COVID put a stop to a lot of different things; agreements expired,  people stopped coming, so we are in the process now, post-COVID to renew this relationship,” Phillip Kydd, trustee of New England Institute, stated.

“We have made a strategic decision that we want the students, but we also want to invest in the students… we are offering a sliding scale based on the number of students that come that we believe will cover not only the full cost of their tuition but their lodging. We are really excited about that. It will provide an opportunity for them to come at no additional expense to their family,” he explained.

Dr. Robert Robertson, President of UCCI, believes this a strategic partnership to help the Cayman Islands fill skill areas that her currently in demand.

“We have this emerging partnership with the New England Institute of Technology. I think it's very good for the UCCI and the Cayman Islands,” UCCI President Dr. Robert Robertson said, adding that it is a first step.

He explained that New England Institute was not competing with the UCCI but that the degrees offered through the partnership would be programs not currently offered in the Cayman Islands. Dr. Robertson said UCCI hopes this partnership will grow to offer even more.

He said UCCI was also looking at some of the university's healthcare programs and also wanted to look at a partnership with faculty.