CMI, China Women’s University ink partnership for female advancement
Published:Wednesday | June 7, 2017 | 12:00 AMPetre Williams-Raynor
In a move intended to help advance female training and empowerment, the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the China Women's University (CWU).
"CMI and CWU are desirous of establishing a collaborative relationship that nurtures mutual respect and understanding, shared responsibilities, and fosters a commitment to the development of joint initiatives for the benefit, advancement and enhancement of female training and empowerment," CMI's director of legal affairs, Deniece Aiken, said in an emailed response to Gleaner queries.
The development of joint programmes to build capacity for women in China and Jamaica, as well as other developing countries, is among the areas of potential collaboration, in line with the MOU.
Other areas include joint hosting of conferences and training seminars; establishment of scholarships for Chinese and Jamaican women to pursue studies in Jamaica and China, respectively; sharing of relevant facilities; and collaborative research.
There is, too, room for faculty and student exchanges; the sharing of resources, including syllabi and library resources; as well as shared certification through accreditations, and joint seminars, workshops and webinars face-to-face and online.
Significant MOU
"This MOU is significant as it is indicative of what will be an impactful partnership between China and Jamaica. As CMI transitions to a university, this will only help to attract more international students to Jamaica and re-establish Jamaica as the jurisdiction of choice for higher-level education, training and certification in maritime, logistics and engineering," noted Aiken.
"China represents a quarter of the world's population and to be true to our mission of producing industry-ready leaders, we are not limited to a geographic location. This will support our focus on promoting Jamaica's educational export sector," she added.
Further, Aiken said that the MOU aids in "supporting Jamaica's contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 to 'achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls' and is expected to impact the international community in more ways than one".
People's Republic of China accepts all degrees from CMI
Director of legal affairs Deniece Aiken has said that through a partnership between Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) and the China Women's University, the Ministry of Education for the People's Republic of China now acknowledges and accepts all degrees from CMI.
She said that was a major achievement as CMI transitions to becoming a university of choice.
The legislative process to have CMI transition to a university is now nearing completion.
"The Caribbean Maritime Institute Act was amended to update the purpose of CMI and widen its scope, thus creating the CMU. The CMU Bill 2015 review has gone the rounds from CMI board to the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing and received Cabinet approval in December 2013," explained Aiken.
Following a review process involving the chief parliamentary counsel and relevant ministries, "the bill was passed with 29 amendments, which were approved by the House of Representatives, following the debate of the bill in the Houses of Parliament on April 12, 2017".
"The CMU Bill is currently at the Attorney General's Chambers, where it is being vetted for the final time before being sent to the governor general," Aiken noted.
"Following the assent of the governor general, the CMU Act will be published in the Gazette," the attorney said.