UTech sets date to install Vasciannie

Recently appointed president of the University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, will be installed as the university's fourth president at an installation ceremony on Tuesday, March 14.

Chancellor of UTech, former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, will preside over the ceremony while Minister of Education Ruel Reid is expected to bring greetings.

Other scheduled speakers include Pro-Chancellor Richard Powell, a joint representative from the university's staff union, the Alumni Association and Students' Union presidents.

Share his vision

Vasciannie, who has served as Jamaica's ambassador to the United States, is expected to share his vision for the university in his inaugural address.

The UTech president has also served as Jamaica's permanent representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS). In that capacity, he was elected chairman of the Permanent Council of the OAS and as chairman of the OAS Committee on Juridical and Political Affairs.

He has also served as a deputy solicitor general for Jamaica, a member of the board of Scotiabank Jamaica, and has chaired the boards of Scotia Investment Jamaica and of his alma mater, Kingston College.

His academic career has included senior appointments at the University of the West Indies, and he served as principal of the Norman Manley Law School from 2008 to 2012.

A Rhodes Scholar, Vasciannie has been a professor of international law for more than 12 years. He holds the Doctor of Philosophy degree in International Law from the University Oxford, the Master of Law degree in International law from the University of Cambridge, the Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford, and the Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of the West Indies.