TABLE OF CONTENTS HISTORY OF UTECH, JA 04 VISION & MISSION STATEMENT 05 FOREWORD 06 INTRODUCTION 07- 09 UTECH, JAMAICA’S RESEARCH MANAGEMENT ECOSYSTEM 10 - 15 A PIONEERING PAST AND A BRIGHT FUTURE 16 - 123 OF IMPACTFUL RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACHIEVEMENTS RESEARCH ETHICS 17 - 19 THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 20 - 31 BUSINESS, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY 32 - 43 )HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS HIV 44 - 50 OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES & NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES 51 - 58 AND FOOD CONSUMPTION, AFFORDABILITY & SECURITY PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACEUTICS 59 - 62 )CANNABIS SATIVA )MARIJUANA/GANJA 63 - 68 CANCER AND MEDICINAL PLANTS 69 - 72 ENGINEERING, ICT APPLICATIONS & INFORMATION SYSTEMS 73 - 86 ORAL AND PUBLIC HEATLH 87 - 89 ,EDUCATION 90 - 104 HUMANITIES& SOCIAL SCIENCES MARINE BIOLOGY 105 - 107 PUBLICATION OF UTECH, JAMAICA 108 - 123 RESEARCH OR SCHOLARLY WORK IN THE POPULAR PRESS UTECH’S FLAGSHIP JOURNAL 124 CERDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 125 PAGE “EXCELLENCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE” 4 A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica) started in 1958, as the Jamaica Institute of Technology. In 1959 the name of the institution was changed to the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST) Scheme of 1959. This was validated by an ACT of Parliament in 1964. In 1986, the CAST Scheme was revised in order to make the College a degree-granting institution, and the College became legally empowered to conduct affairs under a governing Council and Academic Board. The institution was formally accorded University status on September 1, 1995 as the University of Technology, Jamaica. The history of the institution is intimately connected with the social and economic development of Jamaica. From just over 50 students and four programmes in 1958, UTech, Jamaica has grown to become Jamaica’s premier national institution for tertiary education with a student population of 13, 000. It now offers more than 130 programmes at the certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and graduate degree levels through its three colleges and five faculties. The University has further expanded access to its programme offerings to meet the demands of business and industry by establishing campuses and satellite locations in other locations in Kingston and also in Montego Bay, St. James. In addition, several programmes are franchised through links with community colleges, and most programmes are linked to national and international professional organizations. Syllabuses are modeled on the English polytechnic system, with emphasis on flexibility of approach, work-based, experiential learning and professional linkages through cooperative work- based programmes. Flexibility in the University’s academic programmes is reflected in the various modes of course delivery, which include the establishment of a Semesterised mode of delivery introduced in academic year 1999/2000 and further adjusted and piloted in 2009-2010. The University’s mandate is reflected in its mission to“stimulate positive change in Caribbean Society through the provision of high quality learning and research opportunities and service to our communities.” As such, the University’s three core pillars are Teaching, Research, and Service. PAGE “EXCELLENCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE” 5 OUR VISION The University of Technology, Jamaica will: Provide innovative and expanded access to learning Offer innovative, transformational, profession-driven and leading-edge programmes Have in place high quality staff who are professionally competent, innovative and leaders in their own field Operate with high quality, relevant resources and facilities Resulting in: Recognition for its leadership in entrepreneurship, research, technology innovation and exceptional customer care The well-known and respected UTech, Ja. brand Globally competent, versatile, innovative entrepreneurial graduates A positive impact on society OUR MISSION To Stimulate Positive Change in Caribbean Society through the Provision of High Quality Learning and Research Opportunities and Service to our Communities PAGE “EXCELLENCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE” 6 FOREWORD The University of Technology, Jamaica this year marks the 60th anniversary of the institution which started in 1958 as the Jamaica Institute of Technology. A year later the name was changed to the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST). In 1995, when the institution was officially granted university status by an Act of Parliament, research output was immediately elevated as an important pillar in the core mission of the University. This mission is “to stimulate positive change in Caribbean society through the provision of high quality learning and research opportunities and service to our communities.” The University of Technology, Jamaica remains committed to this three- Prof. Stephen Vasciannie, CD President pronged mission of teaching, research and service to significantly impact Jamaica’s growth and development goals. As we seek to strengthen our capacity for the dissemination and creation of new knowledge in a global, knowledge-based economy, increased output of research and publications among members of faculty and staff is an imperative. This publication titled “A Pioneering Past and a Bright Future of Impactful Research and Scholarly Achievements”, contains selected pieces of research that have been conducted by members of faculty, staff and students from our three colleges and five faculties, that have had particular impact on society. It consists of 74 pieces of research work inclusive of peer-reviewed research papers and projects, a book summary and conference presentations that add to the stock of knowledge on important areas of local and regional development. These include areas such as sustainable energy, business, tourism and hospitality, non-communicable diseases and food consumption, oral and public health, pharmacology and pharmaceutics, land management, urban development and the environment, cannabis research and legislation, ICT applications and issues in education and teaching. The interdisciplinary collection offer’s a bird’s eye view of UTech, Jamaica’s expertise at work. It is our hope that it will provide a useful reference tool for researchers and members of the public in general. We invite members of government, industry and academia to continue to partner with the University of Technology, Jamaica in the journey of advancing discovery and the sharing of new knowledge for the benefit of society. PAGE “EXCELLENCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE” 7 INTRODUCTION UTech, Jamaica & Vision 2030 The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech, Jamaica), which is the publicly-funded national University, is committed to conducting high-impact, inter-disciplinary, and applied research in focal areas derived from the specialised disciplines within the university and relevant to economic and social problems of the society. This is ensured by aligning research focus areas with national goals and priorities for development as articulated in the country’s long-term development plan, Vision 2030 Jamaica. In other words, UTech, Jamaica has positioned itself to produce impactful research solutions to economic and social problems. The “Objects” of UTech, Jamaica The University was established by Act of the Jamaican Parliament in 1999 as an upgrade from college to university of the College of Arts Science and Technology (CAST), which had been operating since 1958 as a polytechnic-type training institution. The “objects” of the new University, as set out in the Act, would be to: • Advance education and development of technology through a variety of patterns, levels and modes of study and by a diversity of means by encouraging and developing learning and creativity for sustainable development for the benefit of the people of Jamaica, the Caribbean and elsewhere; • Preserve, advance and disseminate knowledge and culture through teaching, scholarship and research; • Make available the results of such research and service; and • Promote wisdom and understanding by the example and influence of corporate life.” The powers granted to the University of Technology, Jamaica included the power “to make provision for research and research training for the preservation and advancement of knowledge in such manner and through such media as the University may determine.” PAGE “EXCELLENCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE” 8 PURPOSE & ORGANIZATION OF THIS PUBLICATION The centrality of, and our commitment to, research are embedded in the University’s mission – “To Stimulate Positive Change in Caribbean Society through the Provision of High Quality Learning and Research Opportunities and Service to our Communities.” Against this background, the purpose of this publication is to highlight impactful, multi-disciplinary, and applied research, in specialized disciplines that are relevant to addressing social and economic problems faced by our society, that has been undertaken by staff and students. However, to provide an understanding of how our University organizes itself to accomplish its research agenda, this publication also provides: 1. Information on UTech, Jamaica’s Research Policy, 2. A description of UTech, Jamaica’s research management ecosystem, 3. A list of key research-related institutional initiatives areas, 4. A widely accepted definition of research management and, 5. A list of key research management functions. These sections are followed by selected pieces of research and scholarly achievements by staff members and students from our three colleges and five faculties as well as from a number of our