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This 2018-19 Annual Report is The University of Belize a publication of the Office of Belmopan Campus Marketing and Communications Hummingbird Avenue of the University of Belize. Belmopan, Cayo Vision & Mission Belize Editor in Chief +(501) 822-1000/822-3680 Professor Emeritus Clement K. Sankat www.ub.edu.bz Message from the Chairman _______________________ Author and Editor Ms. Santree Sandiford Business Campus President’s 2018-2019 Report Department of Marketing & University Drive Communications P.O. Box 990 Belize City, Belize UB at a Glance Author and Editor +(501) 223-2733 Ms. Sheena Zuniga Department of Marketing & Education Campus UB Strategic Plan 2017-2022 Communications University Drive P.O. Box 990 Graphic Designer Belize City, Belize Mrs. Zayri Cocom +(501) 223-0256 Teaching, Learning & the UB Experience Department of Marketing & Communications Central Farm Campus 65 Miles G.P. Hghwy Voices of Our Academic Leaders Cover Photo Image Cayo, Belize Rolando Cocom Photography +(501) 824 3775 UB Student Life Punta Gorda Campus Jose Maria Nunez St. Punta Gorda Town Toledo, Belize Research & Innovation +(501) 702 2720 For more information, please contact the Office at: Outreach & Engagements P: +(501) 822- 1000 ext. 202 E: [email protected] Organizational/Management Structure All rights reserved 2020 Financial Reporting “It always seems St. Augustine Campus, known as UB’s finances, precarious in the opportunities and deliver on the a savvy, intentional leader seeped best of times, were brought under current mantra - Reach, Relevance, impossible until it’s in years of UWI tradition leaves no management and the hitherto Responsiveness and Responsibility. stone unturned in his relentless done.” - Nelson Mandela quest for excellence. steady decline in reserves was I thank my colleagues on the Board stemmed. This gives hope that in In as much as the year opened with of Trustees for their enthusiasm and optimistic fanfare, with student future years a reserve could be support and for their critical insights enrolment cresting 5,000, the realized to help fund capital needs and guidance. Much gratitude must year culminated with a veritable of the institution. go to The Ministry of Education crescendo. It was crowned by an impressive ceremony at the Belize During the 2018/19 cycle under the helm of the Honorable City Center conferring degrees, remarkable strides were made in Patrick Faber and by extension to certificates and diplomas to a laying the foundation for the much- the Government of Belize for its record class of 1,144 proud UB desired Health Sciences Faculty continuing sponsorship through graduates and the conferral of with its flagship Department of an annual subvention and by the University’s first Honorary Doctorate on Sir Colville N. Young, Medicine. For this we remain providing scholarships to hundreds Governor General of Belize. indebted to the foresight and of students. We remain indebted commitment of Dr. George to our Faculty and Staff and to the The challenges in the 2018/19 Gough and President Sankat who, students and their sponsors for the MR G. A. HARRISON PILGRIM academic year paled in light of the bolstered by selfless support growing confidence shown in UB. Chairman1st August of the2018 Board dawned of Trustees with impressive strides the National University made in creating greater from the National Autonomous much expectation and promise as Finally, on behalf of the Board of access, building stakeholder University of Nicaragua (UNAM) the University of Belize opened its confidence and accentuating Trustees we thank our President, have persevered against daunting doors once more to its 18th student the relevance of the institution. Vice President and all Senior intake and impressive Matriculation During this cycle we witnessed the odds. It is our expectation that Managers for the dedicated service Ceremonies were held in Belize expansion of new bachelor programs a modest building to house UB’s that has been provided. City, Belmopan and Punta Gorda. in Marine Biology, Statistics, Medical School will soon be erected The 2018/19 academic year would Chemistry, Applied Agriculture and heralding home-based training in be the first year in which the Pharmacy; the construction of a medicine. recent unveiled Transformational high tech engineering complex in “Do right things, Leap, tweaked and revitalized Belmopan - thanks to the largesse On the academic frontline, the over the summer would be further it will gratify of the Government of India and completion of the first cohort of MBA implemented and tested. the program accreditation of UB’s students and the commencement some people and August 2018 would also herald in the BSc. in Social Work. In this year UB of a Master in Education program second full year of the experienced announced its intent to become astonish the rest.” leadership of Professor Emeritus an internationally accredited continue to drive the University’s - Mark Twain Clement Sankat. Prof Sankat, institution. ambitious intent to build quality, recently retired Principal of the UWI extend learning and research 1 2 My Dear Readers, Our Academic Year 2018-19 began with a number of key initiatives that set the All our stakeholders, faculty, stage for the months to follow. For example, namely: • The President’s Retreat, Kiki Witz, Belmopan, 3rd August 2018. staff, students, alumni, • Flag Raising on the Occasion of our 18th Anniversary parents, members of the • New Students Welcomed at Matriculation Ceremonies in Belmopan, public and private and NGO Belize City and in Punta Gorda. • Breaking the Ceiling of 5, 000 Students. sectors, all of you, I am very • Accountable and Compliant. pleased to share this 2018- • Communicating and Telling the UB Story. 2019 Annual Report including • UB Hosted the CXIII Session of CSUCA • Medicine at UB - Pressing Forward to this Goal our Audited Financial PROFESSOR EMERITUS CLEMENT SANKAT President • Engineering and the India Belize Center for Engineering, IBCE (Belmopan Statement for the year. This year represented the second year of Campus) my stewardship as President of the University and the Report is • Partnerships for Progress • UB hosts 4th Belize/Mexico Bi-national Seminar – Sustainable entitled “Moving Ahead – New Milestones” and my hope is that it Development in the Maya World captures your imagination on the possibilities for our University. • Sharing our Transformational Plan with the Leader of the Opposition, With our successes and accomplishments within the context Hon. John Briceno • Celebrating our Students for their Environmental Consciousness of the catch words of our Transformational Plan: Vision 2022 – • Celebrating Belize’s Diverse Culture – our Cultural Sensitivity Relevance, Reach, Responsiveness and Responsibility (our 4 big • Winning in Sports Rs). Management Guru, Peter Drucker, said “plans are only good • A Time of Sadness – Crime Affected our Community • UB’s Second Master’s Program Launched intentions unless they immediately generate into hard work”. • The ICJ National Referendum – Faculty, Staff and Students Fully Engaged Hence we are moving ahead through the committed work of a • Pressing on the Research Front strong, focussed team – administrators, faculty, staff and student • Celebrating with our People • The Cornelius Cacho Grant to the UB Endowment Fund Dedicated to government, and this is our story for the past academic year. Student Scholarships • A Gala Graduation Ceremony at the Civic Center in Belize City and UB’s Award of its First Honorary Doctorate Degree • UB and Junior Colleges Engage to Advance Tertiary Education in Belize 3 4 The President’s Retreat, Kiki Witz, Belmopan, Flag Raising on the Occasion of 3rd August 2018 our 18th Anniversary We embarked boldly on a path of change This Ceremony on 1st August at UB through our Transformation Plan: is one I wish to firmly plant in Vision 2022 – a five-year smart plan. the University’s calendar as it The UB team worked together on this in provides an opportunity for all the last academic year, had it approved our stakeholders to re-commit by the Board of Trustees, had it widely to the mission and vision of our disseminated in and out of the University national University. I noted at and began its implementation. The focus the event that after 18 years of of this Retreat and which I hope will UB’s establishment and from a somewhat fractured history, we be an annual planning forum, focused are now one University united in on execution and brought together the service of the people of Belize Senior Managers, Directors, Deans, and on this 18th Anniversary, “it’s Chairs Student Leaders, the UBFSA and the perfect time to dream big, take the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. giant leaps and reach for the stars”. Some of the key issues we discussed, led by Deans and Directors, included having new and/or revised academic programs, New Students Welcomed at Matriculation Ceremonies more at the Bachelors level, that are attractive and marketable; marketing in Belmopan, Belize City and in Punta Gorda and promotion of our programs so as to increase our student numbers and train more in Belize; striving to balance our budget; creating a physical environment more conducive and attractive for our faculty, staff students and visitors, one that is befitting that of a respected University; underlining the core business Our second Matriculation Ceremonies were held on 22nd and 29th August in Belmopan and Belize City of teaching and learning where the respectively with the goal of formally welcoming all our new students, parents and guardians in to matters of quality enhancement and our university, providing them with an opportunity to meet with the leadership of the University and assurance, as well as a more student- to provide an assurance to all students gathered of the University’s desire to guide, encourage and centered institution. Listening to the support them so as to successfully complete their studies and to have a memorable UB experience. views of our leaders and their plans The packed gatherings were at the Jaguar Auditorium in Belmopan and the Bliss Center for the for the year left all of us at the Retreat Performing Arts in Belize City.