NCU ALUMNI CHAPTER CAYMAN (ACKy)

October 26, 2018

The Cayman Chapter of the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) Alumni Association announces its first donor-funded scholarship tenable at NCU in September 2019. The first ad for the scholarship was published locally on Friday (October 26, 2018). 

The four-year scholarship will cover tuition, books and accommodations at the Mandeville-based university, in the fields of computer studies or education. Caymanians or locally resident Jamaicans are eligible to apply.

“Our chapter is grateful for the generosity of this scholarship donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, and who has stipulated the criteria for eligibility,” said Chapter President Patricia Ebanks, adding: “Our Chapter is delighted to administer this scholarship along with those issued directly by us, the first of which we anticipate announcing in 2019.” Six Caymanians are now studying at NCU.

The restriction of the currently available scholarship to the two designated areas, IT and education, was stipulated by the donor.

Northern Caribbean University has over the past several years distinguished itself in the area of information technology.  This year the university created history by fielding the first Jamaican student-entrepreneur team, Beasc Technologies, to win the prestigious International Business Model Competition (IBMC) for tertiary institutions globally. The projects entered in these competitions by NCU are all technology-driven. (https://jis.gov.jm/student-entrepreneur-team-wins-global-competition/).

Beasc Technologies, which was one of five Jamaican teams participating in the IBMC’s 2018 competition in Utah, USA, May 10-11, 2018, topped participants from 38 other colleges and universities to cop the champion’s trophy and a US$30,000 cash prize. The University of the West Indies’ Eco-Structures, was the first runner-up, winning the US$20,000 second place prize.

“This continues NCU’s solid track record of accomplishment in international computer technology and business competitions in recent years,” said President of NCU Dr. Lincoln Edwards, who last month spoke at the Cayman alumni chapter’s anniversary celebrations.

Other NCU teams achieving creditable performances inthe IBMC competitions over recent years include Herboo Enterprises, which placed eighth; JarGro, a 2015 semi-finalist; Guardana Inc., which placed sixth in 2016; and Natsima Nutraceuticals, which placed fourth in 2017.

Addressing the competition’s annual launch earlier this year at the Knutsford Court in Kingston, Jamaica, Dean of NCU’s College of Business and Management, Dr. Audley Eccles, said:

“At NCU, we recognise that the National Business Model Competition is much more than just a competition. For us, it is an opportunity to introduce students across all disciplines to entrepreneurship… and, more importantly, to entrepreneurship as a viable career option. It’s about igniting that entrepreneurial spirit that we seem to have as a people, and nurturing it and showing students the possibilities that exist.” (https://jis.gov.jm/ncu-goes-for-fifth-straight-win-in-dbj-business-model-competition/).

NCU student-teams have also been multiple winners in the Microsoft Imagine Cup, a premier global technology competition giving students the opportunity to use their imagination and passion to create technological solutions. 

Notably, an NCU team copped the Microsoft Imagine Cup Interoperability Award, becoming world champion from among a field of 90 competitors at the world finals in Warsaw, Poland, July 8, 2010. 

Persons interested in IT may pursue a bachelor’s degree in either computer information systems or computer science. The computer information systems degree has an emphasis in networking, data management, information security, technology management and digital design, while the computer science degree focuses on software engineering, information security, and data communications and networks.

The scholarship is also available to Cayman-based students matriculated into either the early childhood, primary, or secondary education teaching programmes.  

NCU teacher education and computer studies courses are accredited by the University Council of Jamaica, the accrediting agency for all tertiary degrees offered in Jamaica. 

NCU’s teacher education courses are additionally accredited by Jamaica’s Joint Board of Teacher Education and the Adventist Accreditation Association. 

Teacher education courses at NCU are supported by the use of technology, seminars, micro-teaching episodes and two teaching practicum periods. 

Among pre-requisites for application for this alumni chapter scholarship is matriculation   into one of the two relevant NCU faculties. 

For information on NCU programmes, visit https://www.ncu.edu.jmor contact the Office of Admissions, Northern Caribbean University, tel: 1-876-963-7250-5,admissions@ncu.ed.jm.  

Persons interested in applying for the NCU Alumni Association Cayman Chapter Scholarship may contact the Chapter President at 345-938-2209 or ncu.kyalumni@gmail.com. The deadline for receipt of scholarship applications is May 31, 2019.