Newly appointed president of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), Professor Andrew Spencer, is seeking to boost the reputation of the institution by deepening its international links.
Mr. Spencer acknowledges that the institution is recovering from a fall-off in enrolment due to COVID-19 as well as challenges with staff morale, but he believes there will be improvements and "glory days ahead" for the school.
Professor Spencer joined CMU on September 12, replacing an interim head who took over following the resignation of Professor Fritz Pinnock on February 18.
The issues involving Mr. Pinnock and the criminal investigation surrounding operations at CMU have been affecting the institution.
However, Professor Spencer asserts that things have changed and the university is trying to capitalise internationally on its "secret sauce".
This "secret sauce", he says, contributes to the high reputation its graduates garner in the work world, where their reviews "far supersede many other tertiary institutions".
Professor Spencer, who was speaking Wednesday on Beyond the Headlines, said the school now needs to "look at our model of education and how we can brand that and sell that to the world".
In furtherance of this, he said the institution is already in the process of signing several memoranda of understanding with different international universities, which will facilitate staff and student exchanges as well as staff development.
In addition, Professor Spencer said the MOUs could enable the schools to embark on joint programmes, research and consultancy.
