

Seasoned higher education administrator Professor Colin Gyles has been appointed new president of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC), the Worthington Avenue-based institution announced on Tuesday (April 9)
According to Dr Winston Adams, executive chairman of the UCC & SPECTRUM Groups of Companies, Gyles’ tenure came into effective as of April 8. As the fourth president of the fast-growing UCC, Gyles succeeds Professor Haldane Davies, who was appointed last April.
As the largest private, non-affiliated higher educational institution in Jamaica with over 7,000
students locally, UCC has placed great expectations on the former president of the University of Technology (UTech).
“The UCC is indeed pleased to welcome Professor Colin Gyles who is an accomplished award-winning academic leader with over 30 years of experience in higher education and leadership. He holds a PhD in chemistry with a multidisciplinary focus and has been a full professor of applied sciences since 2013. Since 2015, he has served with distinction as deputy president of the University of Technology and twice as acting president at that institution for approximately five years,” Adams stated.
Gyles headed the creation of UTech’s Faculty of Science and Sport in 2009, serving as its first dean.
Under his leadership, he established vital components like the School of Natural and Applied Sciences, the School of Mathematics and Statistics, the Caribbean School of Sport Sciences, the Centre for Science-based Research, Entrepreneurship and Continuing Studies, and the Integrated Optics and Photonics Research Laboratory.

He brings a a tremendous wealth of relevant knowledge and experiences, especially from UTech where he was pivotal in helping to spearhead the rapid growth of its student population to some 12,000 students
annually and managed a budget of approximately J$10 billion annually.
He received the national honour of Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander for contribution to the field of academia and is the 2017 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education. Professor Gyles was inducted as one of the Governor General’s ‘I Believe’ Initiative ambassadors.
“It is with a deep
Professor Colin Gyles, New President of the University of the COmmonwealth Caribbean.
sense of humility and gratitude that I accept the responsibility granted to me to serve as president
of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC). The UCC/UCC Global is an
innovative and entrepreneurial institution that fosters leadership and innovation through its
programmes and initiatives, which are in sync with the evolving needs of Jamaica, the region,
and the world; and I am indeed honoured to facilitate along with others the next chapter of its exciting journey.
I am thankful to the UCC Board of Directors for the confidence placed in me to lead the institution at this juncture and stand committed to carrying out its mission of preparing local, regional & global students to become exceptional leaders, innovators, and scholars in a caring and intellectually stimulating academic environment.”
An active researcher, Professor Gyles has numerous scholarly research publications, journal articles, conference proceedings, reports, and other scholarly work in leading international peer-reviewed scientific journals and has been a featured speaker at many local and international conferences.
Additionally, he has a proven track record in leading initiatives that transform and enhance the quality
of the student experience, staff development and infrastructure.
As the founding dean of a university faculty with three schools, Gyles was inducted as an honorary fellow in the International College of Dentists (FICD) for his significant contribution to the establishment of an
internationally recognised dental school. He is a current director of the HEART/NSTA Trust, a council member of the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) and a member of the National Quality Policy Council.

Adams, noted that “in joining the UCC, Professor Gyles, under the direction of the board, will continue to lead the UCC toward the achievement of its stated strategic goals and objectives, enabling the institution to continue to be the innovative and flexible higher education institutions, for which it is well known and valued.”
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