University of Belize Debuts MBA Program
The first graduate’s program was launched at the University of Belize this past Thursday, opening new opportunities for Belizean students to pursue higher education here at home. The first program is for a master’s in business administration; it is being hailed as major accomplishment for the national university. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Several months after appointing a new president to the helm of the University of Belize, the tertiary institution is introducing a Master of Business Administration program. It is the first graduate program in UB’s seventeen years of existence. Professor Emeritus Clement Sankat and a his team at the university have been working assiduously to bring this curriculum to life for students who wish to pursue higher learning in that field of study. On Thursday, the faculty and staff of Belize’s national university gathered at the Biltmore to formally launch the new program.
Clement Sankat
Prof. Clement Sankat, President, University of Belize
“This is truly a historic day in the life of the is young, national University of Belize, seventeen-years-old. We are gathered here to celebrate our own indigenous, first graduate program, the MBA of the University of Belize, not the MBA of UWI or some American university or thereof, the MBA of the University of Belize. And let me therefore from the outset, commend my academic colleagues led by the able Dean Watler and his faculty for the commitment, steady work, of course intellectual effort that was used and that was done to develop and bring this program to where we are today.”
The MBA program, according to Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Harrison Pilgrim, will see students from across the region signing up for advanced business courses at UB.
Harrison Pilgrim
Harrison Pilgrim, Chairman, Board of Trustees, UB
“With the selection that our board made one year ago in determining new leadership for this university, within six months of that leadership taking place Professor Emeritus Clement Sankat, along with his vice president, Marriott Simon, who have worked with Belizeans who have the university at heart, with deans and chairs and administrative personnel, they have brought the team together and we are on the brink of transformation. I want you to congratulate our president, our vice president and the others.”
From government’s perspective, the addition of an advance-level business course for graduate students helps in the creation and provision of jobs for persons with this particular skill set.
Tracy Panton
Tracy Panton, Minister of State, Economic Development
“The launch of our very own MBA program excites so many emotions, pride, expectation, hope and even humility, knowing that the prospect for greater learning in the field of business administration will provide an opportunity for those yearning for higher education and have access right here at home. I wish to congratulate you President Sankat, the faculty and staff of our national university, for you commitment to take the necessary action that has allowed this long anticipated goal to finally become a reality. It is indeed a bold move.”
Attorney Stevanni Duncan is one of several students who have enrolled in the MBA program. Aside from what is being offered in the curriculum, Duncan says she was drawn to UB because it is uniquely Belizean.
Stevanni Duncan
Stevanni Duncan, UB Graduate Student
“It’s a Belizean, it’s a homegrown program and I have always been one of the members of my family to believe that, you know, you can’t just go and study abroad and stay abroad. You have to come home and help develop your country. You have to be a part of your country’s growth and at first I use to be so gung-ho on that position that, no, I secretly, you know, frowned upon those who decided to abandon Belize and go somewhere else, but I will say that I completely understand the decision to leave Belize and go to foreign countries in search of better opportunities or alternative opportunities because the opportunities in our country are limited and so it’s hard for us to really advance ourselves. And that is especially why I am very proud of the University of Belize for launching this program.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
