SENIOR UNIVERSITY administrators from different parts of the world are meeting in Jamaica this week under the auspices of the 14th International Meeting of University Administrators (IMUA).
The more than 200 conference delegates meeting at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology (UTech) started discussions on Monday on strategies and issues relating to the management and administration of higher education.
Meetings are held every 18 months to two years in different countries, and past hosts have included South Africa, Sydney, Australia and Singapore, notes Registrar and co-chair of the local organising committee of the UWI, Mrs. Gloria Barrett-Sobers.
The meetings provide senior university administrators including vice chancellors, presidents, rectors, secretaries, registrars, financial directors, planners and estate managers with an opportunity to discuss the key issues for higher education in an international context she said.
The main theme of the 2003 meeting is "Strategic Partnership in Higher Education," and according to Mrs. Barrett-Sobers, the theme reflects the current trend of forging strategic alliances to maximise resources and increase access to higher education.
Sub-themes to be explored by participants will include: 'Current Trends in Inter-University Collaboration,' 'Changing Relationships between the University and the State,' 'Strategic Partnership with the Private Sector,' and 'the University and the Wider Community.'
Among the keynote speakers are: Professor Michael Gibbons, Secretary-General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Professor Emeritus Compton Bourne, President of the Caribbean Development Bank and former Principal of the UWI, St. Augustine campus, Professor Brenda Gourley Vice Chancellor of the Open University in the United Kingdom, Dr. Frank Newman, Director of the Futures Project based at Brown University in the United States and Sir Shridath Ramphal Chancellor of the University of the West Indies.
Mrs. Diane Mitchell, Vice President of Administration (Registrar) at UTech and Co-chair of the local organising committee said workshop and plenary sessions will be held between the University of Technology and the University of the West Indies.
Participants will not spend the entire five days in meetings, however.
According to Mrs. Mitchell, an interesting and varied programme has been organised for the delegates who are from tertiary institutions worldwide. Among the planned activities is a tour of Port Royal and a special performance by the National Dance Theatre Company Limited (NDTC).
