CMU News

Imagine a world in which people talk to machines – self-driving cars, drones, and robots completing human tasks.  This is the Fourth Industrial Evolution, and the Caribbean Maritime University, CMU, through its partnership with the German-based, FESTO, is at the forefront of preparing those students – for the future.

It’s a fantastic partnership between FESTO and the CMU to establish what’s called a FACT Centre to give students state of the art cutting-edge engineering training. FESTO, a global market leader in industrial education, is an engineering-driven company, specializing in pneumatics; the branch of engineering that specializes in gas or pressurized air, and electric automation technology. The  CMU is the leader for maritime education and training in the region.

Both entities will offer students and employees of manufacturing companies’ hands-on training to learn industry skills necessary to succeed in an evolving economy.

“By 2020, the fourth industrial revolution would have brought us advanced robotics and autonomous transport, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and biotechnology,” according to the World Economic Forum (WEF). This period – the fourth industrial revolution – is characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds.

Elaine Hayden, Director of Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives at the Caribbean Maritime University, believes there will be a dramatic shift in the skills demand set over the next few years. “Modern, state of the art manufacturing starts with qualified people,” she said. “And with the introduction of advanced technologies in large to small innovative companies, the FACT Centre will supply skilled technicians to the manufacturing sector and beyond.”

The PwC 2016 Global Industry 4.0 Survey agrees: “The biggest challenge for industrial leaders isn’t technology – it’s the people.”

Training – or retraining the workforce will be “a challenging task” for companies as we approach the fourth industrial revolution, Hayden said.  However, she was quick to point out that the FACT Centre is equipped with the resources and the technical know-how to solve this skills-gap. “We have four state-of-the-art laboratories and internationally trained FESTO certified lecturers that will be delivering the courses to our first cohort in September.”

The FACT Centre will offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Mechatronics and Automation – areas that will see a rapid increase in job prospects over the next few years as well as specialized courses in industrial pneumatics, electromechanical systems, and hydraulics.

In addition to offering undergraduate degrees, professional development and certificate initiatives, the Centre will focus on fostering an education through a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) approach and strengthening CMU’s track record of aligning academic programmes with industry demands.

For additional information, contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at pr@cmu.edu.jm

The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) strikers sailed into next season’s Division I Intercollegiate Championship – as serious championship contender.
CMU amassed a school league record of 20 points during the season, and three years after relegation, secured their spot at the elite level by qualifying for Saturday’s final.
But the players knew only a victory in the Saturday’s game would vindicate a season full of success, and in 90 minutes secured a 1-0 victory against Portmore Community College (PCC) at the Constant Spring Field, proving they could finish the job. It was Dennis Taylor who scored the winning goal, slipping behind the strong PCC defence in the 75th minute for a delayed – but crucial goal – conjuring a mixture of cheers and applause from the supporters. When the full-time whistle blew, the loud cheers summed up the attitude of the CMU fans.
The championship title was the triumphant culmination of an ambitious push by CMU’s sports department over the last year to rebuild the sports programme at the University.
CMU sports coordinator Stacy Ann Jack, who jointly manages the team with Stephan Williams, labelled the performance by the strikers as the best in recent time.
“I think this is one of the greatest seasons in the history of the league, based on the team’s performance,” she said after the game. “This victory will further motivate the players and other students to participate in similar sporting activities.”
The title was a particularly personal and professional victory for the two sports coordinators, who have borne a heavy share of the responsibility
The team will resume training in August 2018, with renewed focus on winning next year’s Division I championship.

A collaboration initiative among the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), the Embassy of Chile and the National Directorate of Maritime Territory of Chile (DIRECTEMAR) is actively advocating for the sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resource within the Caribbean region through a workshop titled “Major aspects of Coastal Environmental Management Workshop” from October 17 to 20 in Kingston.

The workshop took place under the framework of the cooperation agreement between the DIRECTEMAR and (CHILE/UNDP) – which forms part of Chile’s effort to implement a technical cooperation for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In her presentation, CMU’s VP of Legal and International Affairs, Ms. Deniece Aiken, lauded the DIRECTEMAR and the Embassy of Chile for their contribution to environmental development in the Caribbean.

“This partnership with CMU represents an important milestone in engaging the Caribbean region about the protection and sustainable development of the marine environment,” said Ms Aiken. “CMU will be establishing a Centre for Renewable Energy and Climate Change, that will drive further research and introduce possible solutions to the issues being faced,” she added.

The overall objectives of the workshop were to develop the capabilities among the participants, and to contribute to the protection of the marine environment through environmental education and the management of liquid industrial residues, and the developments of contingency plans in cases of accidental oil spills and dumping.

The mode of delivery at the workshop was lectures from experts within the maritime industry in Chile who shared their environmental best practices in environmental management, climate change and marine life—with participants locally and across the region. They included: The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPEM), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), United Nations Environmental Report (UNEP), and various ports and environmental agencies across the region.

At the closing ceremony, Capt. Jorge Imhoff, of DIRECTEMAR expressed to participants the benefits of the workshop to the overall development of the maritime life and thanked CMU for its collaboration.
In order to maintain the mutual collaboration of this workshop, seven participants of the Workshop in Kingston will be invited to a second phase of the program, to be held in Chile in March 2018. The seven participants will be selected based on the progress status of their environmental management instrument in the subsequent months.

The Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) will launch the Dr. Andrew Wheatley Centre for Digital Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing – a state of the art center for additive manufacturing and digital prototyping on CMU’s main campus at Palisadoes Park in Kingston. The centre is being launched as a partnership between local and international supporters who have secured the deployment of cutting edge equipment and software, funding and expertise towards the establishment of the facility. International partners include Siemens, Ultimaker, Stratasys, @DotProduct, Autodesk and SSI, provide technical and technological support while local partnership with the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology and the Universal Service Fund (USF) provide endorsement and start-up funding respectively.

This centre will focus on digital innovation and advanced manufacturing and will be used to help close the skills gap needed for students to compete in the 4th industrial revolution. The launch of the facility demonstrates the university’s thrust to diversify and enhance the quality of its offerings through technology and innovation. It also signals the establishment of the largest and most sophisticated advanced manufacturing and 3D printing service provider and training centre in the Caribbean. Under the ambit of the CMU the centre will not just be a service provider but a research hub for generating practical solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s manufacturing problems through innovation by bringing both students and industry practitioners together through technology.

According to Professor Fritz Pinnock, President of CMU, “additive manufacturing or 3D printing is another key area where we are seeing the demand from industry for a workforce that has this skill,” said “through a collaboration with the USF, we have been able to acquire the most sophisticated fleet of 3D Printers here in Jamaica and throughout CARICOM.” Executive Director.

The centre will be headed by first Executive Director, Mrs. Erica Simmons a technology leader and advocate who has held a variety of leadership positions at Siemens AG, Oracle Corporation and Expedia. She brings a strong technical background, outstanding management experience and an international network of contacts to start and sustain the centre. “Additive manufacturing has already been identified as the next wave of manufacturing. Many international companies are already utilizing this technology in a variety of interesting ways,” said Mrs. Simmons. She adds, “we too will be performing a variety of research and development projects. It is an honor to be able to lead this initiative and work with our international partners and suppliers to implement the state of the art technology. I know that centre will bring immense value not only to CMU but to Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.”

The centre will be named in honor of Dr. Andrew Wheatley, Minister of Science Energy and Technology and a champion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. He is a graduate of the Prairie View A & M University and Imperial College at the University of London. Dr. Wheatley is also a British Commonwealth Scholar who holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry (Hons.) as well as a Doctorate in Basic Medicine. A Senior Lecturer in Basic Medicine and a Research Scientist at the University of the West Indies, his work includes studies in the areas of Diabetes Management; Reversal of the Effects of Cocaine Addiction; Genetic Engineering against Disease and Stress Conditions; Pharmaceutical Properties of Indigenous Materials and Tissue Culturing.

Dr. Wheatley has had numerous publications in International Peer-Reviewed Journals. In addition, he has, to his credit, two local and two international patents. His vision is for the Ministry to become the driving force that propels Jamaica’s transition into a world-class society through innovation in its portfolio areas of Science, Energy and Technology, thereby creating avenues for employment and national development that ultimately fuels growth.

Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, expressed his confidence that graduates from the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) are pivotal to the Government’s growth and development strategy, in a news story published by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on October 4, 2017.

Dr. Wheatley was quoted in the JIS online news story as saying, “the newly established Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) is well-positioned to produce graduates capable of playing key roles in furthering Jamaica’s development.” He described the relationship between the Government of Jamaica and CMU as “ambitious and aggressive.” A relationship that has birthed state of the art simulators, and training equipment for the university – through grant funding from the Universal Service Fund (USF) amounting to approximately $450 million JMD.

According to the minister the training offered at CMU: feeds seamlessly into the technology and innovation agenda of his ministry and the demands of private sector entities. In concluding, he alluded to the university’s in-demand specialized degree programmes, and the Ministry’s continued support towards the development of CMU. “Knowledge is the key factor that will determine the competitive edge of the (logistics and maritime) industry and our country, as a whole. I assure you that the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology fully supports and will continue to support the Caribbean Maritime University,” he added.

Minister Wheatley was quoted from his speech at the recently held Caribbean Maritime University’s Charter Day, on September 28, 2017, at the National Arena.

The original JIS news story can be viewed here.

His Royal Majesty King Drolor Bosso Adamtey I of Ghana, the first Chancellor of Caribbean Maritime University – arrived on the island on Monday, ahead of CMU’s Charter Day Ceremony on Thursday.

He and his delegation were met by several executive officials of the Institute. Among them were Executive Director, Dr Fritz Pinnock, Director of Legal Affairs, Ms Deneice Aiken, and Director of the School of Marine & Captain Johnny Pretel.

King Adamtey I is expected to be officially installed as Chancellor on Charter Day in front of a packed National Arena, which will include Heads of State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, partners of the university, along with current and past students.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) will be expanding its curricula and programme options with its engineering department, to be launched soon. The $500-million facility, to be named FESTO Didactic Centre, will offer training in the field of industrial automation and mechatronics.

Executive director at the CMI, Dr Fritz Pinnock, said that the world-class centre will focus on areas such as robotics engineering, hydraulics and pneumatics. The centre will be implemented in partnership with German company FESTO Didactic, a world leader in industrial automation technology training.

It will produce certified technicians needed for the maintenance and operation of ports to meet not just the demand in Jamaica, but also regional and international demand. “It is about transforming engineering across the sphere. We will be doing research in engineering with medicine and looking at bionics,” Dr Pinnock outlined, adding that the whole idea is to bridge the gap and make use of opportunities that these areas may create.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The House of Representatives today approved legislation to give the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) university status. Minister of Transport and Mining Mike Henry piloted the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) Bill 2016, which will repeal the Caribbean Maritime Institute Act under which the institution operates.

The CMI is the only international entity approved for maritime training in Jamaica. Over the years, the institute has expanded its scope of programmes to include degrees at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels.

As a result of this expansion, the CMI has gained national, regional and international recognition by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport of the United Kingdom, the International Maritime Organisation, Caricom, and the World Maritime University.

His Royal Majesty King Drolor Bosso Adamtey I of Ghana, the first Chancellor of Caribbean Maritime University – arrived on the island on Monday, ahead of CMU’s Charter Day Ceremony on Thursday.

He and his delegation were met by several executive officials of the Institute. Among them were Executive Director, Dr. Fritz Pinnock, Director of Legal Affairs, Ms. Deneice Aiken, and Director of the School of Marine & Captain Johnny Pretel.

King Adamtey I is expected to be officially installed as Chancellor on Charter Day in front of a packed National Arena, which will include Heads of State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, partners of the university, along with current and past students.