University of Sunderland launches doctoral programmes through the UCC

The University of Sunderland in the United Kingdom will be ­offering two doctoral programmes to qualified individuals through the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC), beginning September 2019.

Programmes being offered are the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) and the Professional Doctorate (DProf), both of which will be taught at the UCC’s main campus in Kingston by visiting professors from the University of Sunderland.

The announcement was made by Professor Dennis J. Gayle, chairman of the University and Foundation Boards and executive chancellor of the UCC, at a function to launch the programmes at the institution on Thursday, April 4.

“During the initial collaboration state, faculty members from the University of Sunderland will teach the Doctorate in Business Administration and the Professional Doctorate. Once the research phase begins, they will serve as the directors of studies for each student, accompanied by a UCC research supervisor,” said Gayle.

It is important to note that both ­doctoral programmes are part of the same package and have ­qualities that distinguish them from other programmes.

“The Doctorate in Business Administration is for ­individuals who want to take a business-­management focus towards their studies. It’s not just about ­academia or applied knowledge, but about professional practice and the generation of knowledge through the workplace,” said Dr John Fulton, director, post­graduate research and programme leader, ­professional doctorate at the University of Sunderland

Persons interested in joining the DBA programme are required to have a ­relevant master’s degree while ­significant senior management experience can substitute for those interested in the DProf programme. Applications for both ­programmes are now open, and will cost £7,000 (or US$9,000) annually for tuition.

The programmes are normally ­completed within three-four years.

Dr Winston Adams, group executive chairman, UCC Group of Companies, urged all qualified Jamaican professionals to take advantage of the opportunity for advanced education by studying with the University of Sunderland, an internationally accredited ­university, without having to leave the country.

“Our doors are open to you who have a passion and a desire for further intellectual growth and discovery as you seek to become experts in your particular field and make a significant ­contribution to your professional practice. Let us recognise that this partnership, which took us over a year to consummate, is now a reality for eligible Jamaican professionals as we provide more opportunities for you to walk into your success,” said Adams.

For her part, Deputy Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr Kasan Troupe, in endorsing the partnership, said that it represents “cutting-edge thinking and an innovative approach”.

Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Sunderland Professor John MacIntyre, who ­participated in the launch through Skype, was delighted with the partnership and the benefits to be derived for both universities.

The launch was also attended by the Most Honourable Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, former governor general of Jamaica and special advisor to the UCC Board of Directors.

The University of Sunderland was awarded the UK Quality Assurance Agency’s Quality Mark in 2015, which ­concluded that the university met ­expectations in ­setting and maintaining academic standards of awards, among other things. The partnership with the University of Sunderland comes at a time when the UCC is engaged with the University Council of Jamaica to obtain its own ­institutional ­accreditation for which candidacy status was recently awarded.