Northern Caribbean University

History

Northern Caribbean University is the oldest private tertiary institution in Jamaica, and was first known as West Indian Training School. It began with 8 students in 1907, as an institution offering courses only up to the twelfth grade. Following a temporary closure in 1913 it resumed operations in 1919. In 1936 it was renamed West Indian Training College. As its offerings developed to include theology, teacher education, secretarial science, business, and natural sciences, it became a junior college. It achieved senior college status in the late 1950s when it began to offer the bachelor's degree in Theology and was renamed West Indies College in 1959. Since then, baccalaureate programmes in some twenty other disciplines have been added. In 1999 the college was granted university status by the Jamaican Government, and was renamed Northern Caribbean University. Currently, the university offers over 70 graduate and post-graduate programs in the sciences, humanities, religion, business and education.

Hyacinth Chen Nursing School

Main article: Hyacinth Chen Nursing School

The Hyacinth Chen School of Nursing was officially opened on the 10th of August 2008 on a location directly across from the Northern Caribbean University campus across from NCU's Dental Centre located in Mandeville, Jamaica.

The school is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica. The school is named in honour of Mrs. Hyacinth Chen, the mother of major donor, Michael Lee-Chin, Jamaican/Canadian businessman.

Awards

The university gained global exposure in the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition of 2007 where members of the school's Computer and Information Sciences department competing as Team ICAD took 3rd place.

NCU was crowned regional champions in 2005, 2007, and 2009. In 2007, NCU Imagine Cup Team ICAD represented Jamaica and the region at the world finals in South Korea where it outclassed competitors from across the globe to place 3rd in the world.

Research

The university hosts a local research centre of the Ellen G. White Estate.

Historic buildings

Several buildings on the NCU site have been declared as National Historic Sites by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, including Rose Cottage and the school's chapel.

Notable alumni

• Stennett H. Brooks, president of the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Churches
• Patrece Charles-Freeman, Jamaican public health expert
• Robert Miller, Jamaican member of parliament

References

References

1. [https://archive.today/20130702182518/http://www.ncu.edu.jm/AboutUs/FastFactsAboutNCU.aspx Northern Caribbean University - Fast Facts About NCU]
2. "For real education reform, take a cue from the Adventists". Christian Science Monitor.
3. "Seventh-day Adventists - Christian Denomination | Religion Facts".
4. (August 11, 2007). "Jamaica Imagine Cup team places third". Jamaica Gleaner.
5. [http://news.ncu.edu.jm/news_item.aspx?NewsID=1163 News - Northern Caribbean University (NCU) .: Mandeville, Jamaica W.I. - 1-876-962-2204]
6. "International Research Centres".
7. (2005). "Jamaica National Heritage Trust - List of Declared Sites & Monuments". JNHT.
8. (2005). "Jamaica National Heritage Trust - Northern Caribbean University". JNHT.
9. Whyte, Kimberly. (2008-12-21). "NCU choir shines in the US". Jamaica Gleaner.
10. Shakespeare-Blackmore, Keisha. (2011-03-07). "Dr Patrece Charles-Freeman Expands Her Role". Jamaica Gleaner.
11. "Robert Miller".