UTT and World University Ranking

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION: New UTT students receive a taste of life at university while interacting with UTT staff, faculty and returning students during New Student Orientation activities at UTT O’Meara Campus.

In just over one year, The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) has made a leap of almost 1,000 places in the World Ranking of Universities and now sits in the top 22 percent of universities worldwide. Such a noteworthy achievement within a relatively short period is indicative of UTT's mission, which focuses on sustainable development, the application of research and knowledge dissemination, and the production of top talent.

The concept of "International University Ranking" is used globally and evaluates an institution of higher education based on a set of rigorous criteria. In its truest sense, ranking provides a clear-cut mapping of who's who, and at best, an objective guide to the main concentrations of research capacity and reputation. By identifying leading institutions and providing comparative data, ranking facilitates internationalisation including cross-border relations between institutions locally, regionally and internationally. Ranking also informs university partnership strategies, guides student choices and enables investors in research to target funding and capacity building strategies.

In the context of UTT, core activities such as teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook were critically assessed using a number of performance indicators. As a result, over the past academic year, UTT has seen a marked increase in its online presence, research output, quality of its faculty and facilities, and the number of publications in key academic journals.

Professor Sarim Al-Zubaidy, President of UTT, notes with intent that this increase in the World Ranking is the result of a collaborative effort of faculty, staff and students, guided by strategic initiatives and major reforms, and additionally demonstrates UTT's commitment to excellence and quality in all aspects of its operations. The President further added that quality is not finite, but must be a continuous process in which the University engages, as it works towards improving its global ranking.

As UTT leverages its many strengths to continue upward in the World Ranking, the University recently hosted its Inaugural Research Symposium, which showcased the important research currently spearheaded by faculty and students. This year's theme, UTT's Role in Research, New Knowledge and Wealth Creation in Trinidad and Tobago, underscored the significance of research from a nationalistic perspective and the critical role that UTT plays in the realisation of Trinidad and Tobago's developmental goals. With more than 100 abstracts, and both oral and poster presentations in a number of key areas, this Symposium has positioned UTT as a hub of innovation and creativity driven by a spirit of entrepreneurship.

UTT is currently engaging in a number of strategic interventions as it continues on the path of consistently improving in the world ranking. Key among these interventions are the undertaking of a robust research agenda for commercialisation, ongoing training of faculty, a drive to recruit the best students and a boost in research influence through citations.

These initiatives are timely as the University prepares for the official launch of its Signature Campus at Tamana. As a young university, these developments continue to demonstrate that UTT has tremendous potential and is well poised to become a premier University in the Western Hemisphere.

New Programme Offerings in 2018

The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), at the start of the academic year 2018, introduced the following undergraduate and postgraduate programmes:

• Diploma in Natural Resource Management
• B.Sc. in Aeronautical and Airworthiness Engineering
• B.Sc. in Agriculture and Entrepreneurship
• B.Sc. in Coastal and Ocean Management
• B.F.A. in Digital Media Arts with specialisations in Animation and Music Technology
• B.Sc. in Kinesiology
• M.Sc. in Kinesiology
• Postgraduate Diploma in Cybersecurity
• M.Sc. in Cybersecurity

The introduction of these academic programmes, in addition to UTT's existing programmes, signals the University's intent to be a world-class tertiary level institution that is responsive to the needs of a developing society. At UTT, the delivery of these programmes is facilitated by a cadre of highly qualified faculty, which incorporates the use of the most modern learning methods and teaching technologies, assuring students of a holistic learning experience.

The University also saw the full implementation of the Personal Tutor (PT) Programme. This student-oriented initiative places students at the centre of the learning process and is designed to assist students as they matriculate into University life. The PT Programme ensures that each student will be paired with a faculty member, who will provide much needed advice on academic issues and a host of other related matters.

Already, the pilot of the PT programme which commenced in February 2018 has contributed towards a higher student retention rate at the Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor levels.

Indeed, the new academic year brings with it a sense of excitement and renewed vigour for all, and these developments augur well for the University as it continues to take the lead in providing quality education and training in a number of diverse and exciting areas.