The University of Belize An Imperative for a ...

The University of Belize –

An Imperative for a

Transformational LeapProfessor Emeritus Clement Sankat

President

Mission“The University of Belize is a national, autonomous and multi-location institution committed to excellence in higher education, research and service for national development.

As a catalyst of change it provides relevant, affordable and accessible educational and training programs that address national needs based on principles of academic freedom, equity, transparency, merit and accountability.”

VisionIn the next five years the University of Belize is dedicated to fostering Belize’s

development by producing graduates who are socially and ecologically

responsible, analytical, self-confident, disciplined, ethical, entrepreneurial, and

skilled communicators and who are committed to using these skills and values for

Belize’s enrichment.

A Brief History of UB

On August 1, 2000, the University of Belize (UB) was created from a

merger of five institutions: the University College of Belize (UCB), the

Belize Technical College (BTC), the Belize Teachers’ Training College

(BTTC), the Belize School of Nursing (BSN), and the Belize College of

Agriculture (BCA). UCB, BTC and BTTC were under the supervision of

the Ministry of Education (MOE); BSN was under the supervision of the

Ministry of Health (MOH); and BCA was under the supervision of the

Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).

In 2004, the main campus was officially moved to Belmopan City. UB

now offers programs from its main campus in Belmopan, and from

three other locations: Belize City campus, Central Farm campus in

Cayo, and from its southern campus in Punta Gorda. UB also owns and

manages two marine field stations at Calabash and Hunting Caye.

Campus Locations

Belmopan(Central Campus)

Belize City Central Farm(Agriculture)

Punta Gorda

Site Stations (Cayes)

Calabash CayeField Station

Hunting Caye

GovernanceBoard of Trustees

President

Vice President

Deans & DirectorsAdministration

Some Statistics

Total Number of Graduates: 11, 736

Current Enrolment: 4, 924

Belmopan: 2, 658

Belize City: 1, 642

Central Farm: 56

Punta Gorda: 405

North including Sugar Belt): 163

Academic Staff: 137

Administrative Staff: 326

Graph of our Growth in Graduates

Who We Are

Education and Arts Management andSocial Sciences

Science and Technology

Nursing, Allied Health

and Social Work

Regional Language Center

Environmental Research InstituteCentral Farm Agriculture

Faculty of Education and Arts

Dr. Nestor Chan

Dean

Current Students Enrolled: 1, 290


Faculty with Doctorate: 13

Faculty with Master’s: 25

The team conceptualizing a new

Master Program in Educational

Leadership with COL – The

Commonwealth of Learning

FEA - Teaching

The Faculty of Education and Arts (FEA) offers associate, certificate,

bachelor, and diploma in education programs. It has programs being

offered in the Belmopan, Belize City, Punta Gorda, Orange Walk and

Corozal campuses. The courses are generally offered using a face-to-face

teaching modality. However, in the Outreach Programs offered in the

northern districts, the blended modality is being used. Presently, FEA

has developed some courses using the online teaching modality and is

working on developing more online education courses this coming

academic year.

FEA - Programs

Certificates/Diplomas

Primary Education

Early Childhood Education

English as Second Language

Secondary Education

Methodology

Associate Degrees

Primary Education

Early Childhood Education

Bachelor Degrees

English

History

Primary Education

Mathematics Education

English Education

Biology Education

Business Education with major in

Management, IT or Accounting

Spanish Education

Secondary Education with majors

in: Science, Social Sciences,

Mathematics, English, or Spanish

New Programs

Bachelor Early Childhood Education

Bachelor in Spanish Education

A revised 4-year bachelor program in Primary Education

4-year Bachelor in English Literature

Master in Educational Leadership (Collaboration with the

Commonwealth of Learning),

Master in Counseling, Special Education, Language Pathology, and

Mathematics or Science Education.

Possible collaboration with well-known universities will be entertained

for other programmes.

FEA - Research

The main areas of research include:

Applied research in Problem-based Learning

Constructivism and Learning

Language Morphology among students

Rituals in plays to transform consciousness (altered state of

consciousness)

Historical developments surrounding the Battle of St. George’s Caye.

The Banana/Sugar Belt Projects

FEA has engaged with the MOEYSC to offer teacher training programs

in the Banana and Sugar Belts through EU funded Projects. These

projects have targeted Primary, Secondary and Early Childhood

Teachers. The current project being managed by the UB is in excess of

$2.5 Million BZE. The project aims to train approximately 100 ECE and

175 Secondary Education Teachers. Also, UB FEA has expanded the

program offering for the Associate ECE to the rest of the country.

Graduates from ECE

Program

ECE Open Day

Faculty of Management and Social

Sciences (FMSS)

Dr. Bernard Watler

Dean





The ceremony of awards

for research to students

and staff

FMSS – Programs

Associate Degrees

Business Science

Tourism Studies

Bachelor Degrees

Accounting

Management

Public Sector Management

Tourism Management

Bachelor Degree in Business

Administration with Majors in:

Finance

Marketing

Management

(New program – Aug. 2017)

New Programs Master of Business Administration (January 2018)

Bachelor Degree in Hospitality Management.

Bachelor Degree in Business Administration with Major in:

Entrepreneurship (August 2018)

Bachelor Degree in Business Administration with Major in:

BBPM – Project Management (August 2019)

BBMI – Management Information System.

FMSS - Research

Economic and social research on an array of topics

The impact of the national debt on the Belizean economy

The long term sustainability of the Social Security Fund.

Good Governance and Pro-Poor Initiatives.

Our students taking undergraduate thesis have also done quite a lot of research

work. An exit requirement from our Bachelor Degree programs is for students to

either write a thesis paper or fulfil an internship requirement. Those that opt for

the thesis continue to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge each

semester with research work which are often presented at the Faculty’s Annual

Research Conference. Copies of these research could be found in our library and

online.

Faculty of Nursing, Allied Health and

Social Work (FNAHSW)

Ms. Leolin Swift-Castillo

Dean

Current Students Enrolled: 692

Total Number of Graduates:1, 190



Receiving Innovators Award from

Caribbean Association of

Pharmacists

FNAHSW - Teaching

FNAHSW engages in teaching at the Certificate, Associate and

Bachelor levels. For 2016-2017, a total of 122 courses were taught;

50 Nursing, 28 Pharmacy, 22 Social Work, and 22 Medical Laboratory.

These courses were taught by11 Nursing, 4 Pharmacy, 4 Social Work,

and 4 Medical Laboratory faculty members and two technicians

(Pharmacy and Medical Laboratory)

FNAHSW continues its collaboration with the Ministry of Health in the

delivery of programs based on national needs such as that of the

Midwifery program, Public Health, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

and collaborates with the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in its

Nursing and Medical Laboratory Technology, and Pharmacy programs.

FNAHSW - Programs

Certificate

Midwifery

Associate

Social Work

Pharmacy

Medical Laboratory Technician

Bachelor Degree

Social Work

Pharmacy

Medical Laboratory Science

Nursing

FNAHSW - Research

Effects of Lemongrass and honey on high blood pressure.

Medicinal value of Moringa in control of some metabolic diseases.

Antibacterial properties of honey: A comparison of the in vitro effects

of three honey types on front line wound pathogens in Belize.

Effects of Aloe Vera on type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Faculty of Science and Technology (FST)

Ms. Juliane Pasos

Dean





Secondary School Programming

Session

New Programs – A Focus on Science and

Technology

In an effort to keep programs relevant, the Faculty has undertaken a

review of all its existing programs.

4 year Bachelor Degree programs in: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics,

Marine Biology, Natural Resource Management, Information

Technology, and Physics. Currently we have only an Associate’s

Degree program in Marine Biology and Chemistry.

Certificate programs are being created in Geographic Information

Systems (GIS) and in Applied Statistics.

We had one of the largest intakes in our Physics program this academic year, with

24 students’ enrolled verse the usual 9-10 students. This indicates a growth in the

interest for this program. The UB is one of only 3 institutions in the country to

offer and Associates Degree in Physics and as the National University, we need to

ensure we are addressing the needs of society.

FST - Programs

Certificate

Applied Agriculture

Associate Degree

Applied Agriculture

Architecture

Building & Civil Engineering

Biology

Biology and Chemistry

Biology, Chemistry & Mathematics

Biology and Mathematics

Biology, Mathematics & Physics

Chemistry

Chemistry & Mathematics

Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

Information Technology

Marine Biology

Mathematics

Mathematics & Physics

Mechanical & Electrical Engineering

Natural Resource Management (NRM)

Bachelor Degree

Biology

Information Technology

Mathematics

Natural Resource Management

FST - Research Potential Study on producible Biogas and Renewable Energy from

Biomass and Organic Waste in Belize

A Management Plan for the Belize River Watershed (BRW)

Using Nuclear Techniques for Geological Applications and

Environmental Monitoring of Soil and Water.

Strengthening National Capacity for Measuring and Monitoring Marine

Pollution and Studying the Effects of Ocean Acidification on Marine

Ecosystems

Dung beetle research, microbiology, tissue culture, and remote

sensing

Signing of BRW Management Plan

Grant

4th Annual Biology and Chemistry

Symposium

UB’s Presence at National Agriculture and

Trade Show 2017

Environmental Research Institute (ERI)

Dr. Elma Kay

Director

The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) was

officially launched on January 28, 2010. It distinguishes itself as a first of its

kind Institute that is dedicated to the development of research in Belize

through the building of local capacity.

Mission

The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute continuously builds

national scientific capacity for the effective management, sustainable use

and conservation of Belize’s natural resources.

ERI - Objectives To provide a mechanism at the

University of Belize for research that meets the natural resource management needs of Belize;

To undertake teaching and training functions at undergraduate, post-graduate and professional levels, in environmental related fields;

To provide coordination and integration of environmental research to inform and influence decision-making regarding formulation of national policies, plans and laws;

To engage in national and regional collaborations for research, training, and implementation of management and conservation initiatives;

To develop and maintain relations with the universities, research institutions, governments and other entities, nationally and internationally, for the best interest of the Institute;

To provide and extend the application of best practices and relevant technologies to private sector entities engaged or interested in the use and extraction of natural resources; and

To provide technical services to public and private entities engaged in the use and management of natural resources.

Regional Language Center (RLC)

Mr. John Florez

Director The Regional Language Center (RLC) hosts a diverse student population from several

countries such as Angola, Belize, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba,

Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico,

Myanmar, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Sudan, Taiwan, Tunisia, and

Venezuela among others. This cultural diversity enhances the opportunities for

linguistic and cultural exchange.

RLC – Services Provided

Services offered

Presently, the Regional Language Center (RLC) offers the following services:

Language programs

Certificate in English as a Second Language (CESL) – 2 semesters (August to June)

English courses (language & culture, experience Belize, TOEFL preparation, English for Specific Purposes, etc.)

Spanish courses (language & culture, methodology, academic writing, etc.)

Language examinations

Language Examination of competency in Spanish

Language Examination of competency in English

Translation services

English-Spanish

English-Mandarin

Spanish-English

Mandarin-EnglishInternational Students in front of

the RLC

Extracts from UB President’s

Recent Installation

With the Governor General and Campus Registrar at St. John’s Cathedral, Belize City, July 27th, 2017

Revisiting our Offerings – Wider and

Deeper Training To move the UB from its embodiment as a College to that of a University –

one where the majority of our graduates will leave with Bachelor Degrees

building in them the knowledge, skills and aptitudes of good professionals,

fortified with language and communication, problem solving, team working

and entrepreneurial skills.

Revisiting our curriculum on a steady basis so that we produce graduates

who are confident, better prepared for the world of work and who respect,

appreciate and celebrate the deep history, diversity and rich culture of the

people, as well as the magnificent environment of Belize.

Graduates who understand our strategic location and the opportunities this

provide a country which is the bridgehead between the Caribbean and

Central America.”

“A University education is not only about skills training, but about producing future leaders

who have a broader, deeper understanding of the world in which they live – social, cultural,

economic, global, with all the possibilities to create a better one. Graduate education will

also readily support this direction.”

Focus on Applied Research, Knowledge

and Creativity “To put the ingredients including the rewards in place to build a scholarly

University focusing on applied research, knowledge, and creativity. My

entire career in academia always blurred the lines between teaching,

research and service, an approach which captured the creative imagination

of our students in the classrooms and brought unison to what a University

meant to me. Research for a deep interrogation/understanding of all that

is Belizean, for problem solving, creativity and entrepreneurship, opening

this country to new possibilities for development. So we will take the first

tentative steps to build this research culture at UB, through our Faculty and

a small cadre of graduate students, at the Masters level and in very defined

areas of our current expertise.”

Building of a Better, Higher Level

Environment The third pillar of our transformation must of necessity be the building of a

better, higher level environment, both human and physical to drive our

advancement in teaching, quality, research,/graduate education, service,

outreach and in our aesthetics. More staff with Ph.Ds., more comfortable

student and staff friendly, technology enhanced infrastructure for teaching

particularly distance teaching and for research. Creating a Campus

Community at Belmopan with residences for staff and students,

recreational, and cultural facilities etc. UB firstly and then Belize must

exude pride in UB’s environment. A Belmopan Campus created that is in

harmony with the green, surrounding natural environment, one that could

be unique in the world.

Sustainable Management of Finances

“Managing our finances to be sustainable, balancing our recurrent budget

and sourcing capital funding. Ensuring efficiency in all that we do is

mandatory for success. While the National University is a “not-for profit

entity”, it must be managed in a “business like” manner –ensuring value for

all our expenditure and that our products are in demand, marketed and

competitive. Creating a culture of giving back to the University, managing

alumni relations, philanthropy, building public/private international

partnerships, and developing new business ventures must be approaches

advanced for capital development and an endowment fund in particular.”

International PartnershipsThe UB cannot achieve the transformation on its own. It has the “vision, determination but not the means.” Capacity must therefore, be built through public/private/international partnerships.

International Partnerships for:

Staff development to the Master and PhD levels in selected fields

Two-way Faculty exchanges

New program development including joint/dual degrees between institutions

Joint research and the application for research grants.

Infrastructural development – New teaching and learning facilities, new laboratories, staff/student services, residences etc.

Cultural/Sporting exchanges etc.

Conclusion

The UB needs to grow into the world of comprehensive universities, small as it may be, with a commitment to teaching, research and service and being so equipped as to create an environment for its students and its staff - to be inspired, motivated and engaged thus producing to the very best of their abilities, advancing Belize’s sustainable development.

Belize is committed to sustainable development, but such development must begin with people who have the knowledge, foresight and skills to drive the creation of a new future. Supporting the National University of Belize is an investment to attaining the same.

We cannot do it alone. The UB needs your assistance.

“I thank you for your attention and your support.”

Professor Clement K. Sankat

President, UB

[email protected]

20th September 2017

mailto:[email protected]

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