The UWI Open Campus, Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday, February 11, 2020 -- The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Open Campus and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate cooperation in education. This ceremonial signing of the agreement took place on January 29, 2019 at the Open Learning Resource Centre on the Mona Campus.
This is a “long overdue relationship”, said Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Open Campus, Dr Luz Longsworth, “which will create an active partnership and, being involved at all levels where we can have mutual benefit and together extend our footprint across the Caribbean, is one of our strategic advantages.” Dr Longsworth affirmed that, “our mantra of opening doors to life-changing learning is at the heart of why we enter into these partnerships and we are excited about the possibilities that this MOU will open to collaborate with the ACCA, the premier organization for certification in accounting.”
With this collaboration, ACCA will undertake to work together with The UWI Open Campus to explore and implement mutually rewarding initiatives aimed at benefitting the students of both bodies, with particular focus on establishing much-needed tuition and exam centre resources across select Caribbean islands where these are deficient. While The UWI Open Campus will explore potential exemptions from the ACCA qualifications for the benefit of its students and consider tuition and computer-based centre options as part of ACCA’s exemption and accreditation programmes and approved learning provider and CBE centre resources.
Mrs Shelly-Ann Mohammed, Head, ACCA Caribbean who signed the MOU on behalf of ACCA said, “This two-way partnership between ACCA and The UWI Open Campus will provide much needed support to ACCA students in many regions who do not have ready face-to-face tuition and computer-based exam centre options, as well as introduce an opportunity for prospective students who had not before considered pursuing a professional designation.” She noted in her remarks that ACCA as a global brand, with 110 national offices operating in 179 countries worldwide, is grateful for the role that The UWI Open Campus can play to the Caribbean region where UWI Open Campus graduates can be provided local access to training from ACCA, networking opportunities with ACCA members and exposure to the accounting profession in a whole new way. She added that she was very excited about the partnership and the fulfilment of the vision that has been several years in the making.
In emphasizing the importance of this collaboration, Ms Maria Sookdeo, Manager – Partner Relations and Communications, ACCA who has been instrumental in taking forward the discussions with The UWI Open Campus said, “we are excited that both organisations have reached this juncture as engagements towards this partnership were initiated over several years.” She added, “It is ideal that we are partnering at this point and opening the doors towards a fruitful partnership as we look forward to implementing the objectives outlined in the MOU.”
In giving closing remarks, Ms Anneshia Welsh, Head, Business Development Unit, The UWI Open Campus, describes the MOU signing as a landmark arrangement for the campus, which will enable students at the Open Campus to graduate with an internationally recognised professional certification alongside their academic degree.
“We envisage that this partnership between The UWI Open Campus and ACCA will foster and grow from strength to strength as we provide access to programmes and learning opportunities,” she concluded.
Senior members of staff from both institutions were in attendance to witness the signing.
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Jamaica News