UTech, Jamaica 2016-17 Annual Report

University of Technology, Jamaica ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 Page 120 Excellence Through Knowledge Advancement Division cont’d. faculties, by promoting their events to the alumni community and connecting alumni with the affiliates to increase engagement. ° ° Sharing of UTech Branded Calendars with Alumni who volunteered for the Septennial Review Alumni Focus Group and those who expressed interest via social media y y Alumni contributed JMD $175,575.50 and USD $1,696 through donations and fundraising activities to support Student Scholarships, the Student Welfare Fund and Alumni Engagement Activities. To Connect Alumni to Each Other Alumni engagement with their fellow alumni colleagues was facilitated as follows: y y Hosted a networking event with theme “Zumba|Dancehall Fitness,” to promote health and wellness and networking among alumni for personal, professional and businesses development. y y Growth by 10 % of the online Job Club on Facebook to foster networking among alumni, with interests in job search, personal, professional and business development content. y y Networked alumni with various needs, with each other, to receive support on various issues. The most common issue was unemployment. To Connect Alumni to the Student Body y y Supported the Student Services/Alumni Relations joint coordination of the University’s Mentoring Programme, and successfully promoted the programme resulting in over 100 active mentors, representing professionals from the public, private and non-government sectors. The University’s mentor cohort also includes a strong contingent of Alumni. y y Continued to network with students by supporting their events or helping them with challenges, with the following highlights: ° ° Supported Annual International Student Final Year Dinner ° ° Supported Annual Student Leadership Conference CENTRE FOR THE ARTS The Centre for the Arts (CFA) was established in 1998, with the purpose of ensuring that the arts retain a central position in the life and learning of the University of Technology, Jamaica. The Centre supports the cultivation of rounded graduates through exposure to practice and appreciation of the visual and performing arts, cultural training and professional development. Electives are offered in dance, drama and music and the Centre organises and manages a number of arts societies and the UTech Art and Theatre Ensemble, the main vehicle for the expression of the work and influence of the Centre. The Centre supports the cultural needs of the University, and provides high quality performances by the Centre-based Art and Theatre Ensemble (which includes a competent Ms Cheryll Messam (3rd left), Alumni Relations Manager poses with participants in an Alumni Meet Up Zumba | Dancehall w Dance fitness session.