BROWN'S TOWN Community College in St. Ann is now offering the University of the West Indies' (UWI) generic Bachelor of Science degree programme in Nursing under a franchise arrangement between the two institutions.
A Memorandum of Understanding permitting the Community College's School of Nursing to deliver the UWI degree programme was signed on Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at a brief ceremony held at the UWI Mona Campus. Pro-Vice Chancellor and Chair of the Board for Non-Campus Countries and Distance Education, Professor Lawrence Carrington signed on behalf of the UWI, and Principal of the College, James Walsh, signed on behalf of the College. Brown's Town Community College has been delivering the programme at its School of Nursing since the start of 2002/2003 academic year. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding represents the formalisation of the franchise agreement.
The generic Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSc. N) programme was designed by the Department of Advanced Nursing Education, Faculty of Medical Sciences at the UWI as part of its development plan and in keeping with regional and international trends. The programme is three calendar years full time and is aimed at persons already in the field of health or who wish to enter the field. It will prepare nurses at the degree level for beginning practice and to facilitate graduate education. The degree in Nursing is the first programme of its kind to be offered in the Northern region of the island and the first government-endorsed Nursing degree programme in the island.
The agreement between the UWI and the Community College remains in force for a period of six years, with the option to renew by mutual agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Brown's Town Community College will be recognised by the UWI as an Associated Institution for the delivery of the degree programme under franchise. All students registered in the programme must meet the UWI criteria for admission and registration, and will be registered as UWI students. However, they will also be registered at the Community College and subject to its rules and regulations.
The franchise arrangement with the Community College is part of an understanding made by the UWI in its Strategic Plan, to collaborate with tertiary-level institutions in the delivery of programmes. UWI has committed to deepen and enlarge the relationship with these institutions, assist them in training their staff and generally work as partners with them in a regional effort in human resources development. More specifically, the UWI intends to devolve to tertiary-level institutions some of the programmes which it now delivers and assist them to deliver first and second year UWI courses in certain subjects. However, the UWI will retain responsibility for quality control and assessment.
