Government has allocated $9 million to the University College of the Cayman Islands to support the institution’s expansion outlined in its 2024 Campus Master Plan.
The plan provides a framework for expanding UCCI’s facilities to accommodate its growth and meet increasing demand for higher education opportunities locally, but specific details on what land will be purchased and cleared for the expansion have yet to be revealed.
‘Historic and momentous occasion’
At a presentation ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Education and Training on 11 March, the chairman of the board of governors, Gilbert McLean, expressed appreciation for the government’s support and outlined how the funding will be used to advance the initiative.
“Today marks a historic and momentous occasion for UCCI,” he said. “For the first time in 50 years, an allocation of funds is being made specifically for the expansion of the college. This allocation will allow UCCI to move forward immediately with key elements of the expansion, including the purchase of much-needed land, the preparation of architectural drawings, the clearing of the land, and the initial stages of construction.”
Phase 1 of the Master Plan, as previously outlined, is expected to take five years and focuses on infrastructure needs and workforce development.
Key elements include a 30,000-square-feet Workforce Readiness Centre that will consolidate vocational programmes, such as nursing and IT, under one roof; the replacement of the Layman E. Scott building with a modern three-storey facility; a 330-space parking garage; and new elevators.
The total cost of Phase 1 of the expansion project is estimated at $21.5 million to $26 million.
Modern campus
Minister for Finance Rolston Anglin said that “investments such as this strengthen not only education, but the Cayman Islands’ broader economic development”.
He said that, in the future, he would like UCCI to be “a modern, nimble campus”, able to welcome residential students.
“That’s not lost on me, that our Cayman Brac students are often disadvantaged and have to live with relatives in Grand Cayman,” he said. “We need to ensure that we’re provisioning for all of the three Cayman Islands, whether you’re from Little Cayman, Cayman Brac or Grand Cayman. And, so, that is going to be a key part of what has to be part of a modern UCCI campus.”
UCCI Acting President Nanalie Cover said, “Today’s expansion has been a long time coming, so UCCI is extremely grateful for the injection of the capital investment of $9 million to expand our facilities. We are celebrating 50 years; our campus has run its course.
“We are now looking forward to expanding that and making that more purposeful for the students that we serve.”
Related Videos
