New University College president a familiar face in Cayman

Mr Samsundar Basdeo

Friday, August 27, 2004

The new president of the University College (UC), Samsundar Basdeo, will be a familiar face.

He has been involved in Cayman Islands education since 1973, when he moved from Trinidad to teach geography at the Cayman Islands High School (CIHS).

Mr Basdeo eventually became deputy principal (academic) of CIHS and headed the fledgling Community College while it was still a part of CIHS.

In 1985 he became a fulltime Community College employee and amalgamated Government’s Trade School, Marine School, Hotel School and adult education classes – into the birth of the Community College of the Cayman Islands.

He became its first Principal when the Community College Law of 1987 came into effect and engineered the move to its new campus off Walkers Road in 1990/91.

Ten years later, he steered the Community College through the introduction of associate’s degrees and articulation with overseas institutions including the University of Tampa and the University of the West Indies.

Today Community College associate’s degrees are accepted for advanced credit towards the bachelor’s degree at universities all over the world.

Those attending North American universities normally complete their bachelor’s in two years.

He was also instrumental in the College becoming a charter member of the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions (ACTI) and served as its treasurer

Mr Basdeo has been officially known as President of the Community College since 1999. He will be inaugurated as the President of the renamed institution - now renamed University College - at 4 pm on its Charter Day, this Saturday at the College Hall.

The University College comes into being as a result of a recent amendment to the Community College Law (1999 Amendment). Starting 6 September, five bachelor’s degrees in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management and Marketing will be offered.

The Charter being presented encapsulates the content of the legislation.

Founded in 1985, the Community College of the Cayman Islands became the University College of the Cayman Islands in 2004.

UC is a public institution of tertiary education offering vocational, technical, professional and academic studies, including associate’s and bachelor of science degrees as well as a host of continuing education and special interest courses.

It has a faculty of 26 professionals and a total enrollment of over 1,500 based on fall 2003 registrations.

For more information visit www.universitycollege.edu.ky

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