When Holland Estates was first announced, it was heralded as the first university town in Jamaica. The ‘town’ was to be a 1200 house housing solution with a university at its center. Holland Estates has been built for a few years and to date, still no university. Rumors were that it was no longer on the cards.
However, between June 15-18 at the Jamaica Conference Center in Montego Bay, the University College of the Caribbean (UCC), Jamaica’s largest privately held tertiary education institution, will be announcing an IPO (Initial Public Offer, which is essentially the selling of stocks to acquire capital). This is to raise US$10 million, which is planned to cover the first phase of the construction of the planned university in Holland Estates. The IPO will target the international community, including the Jamaican diaspora.The University College of the Caribbean (UCC) ranks in the top four recognized universities with accredited programmes in the island.
The Holland estates campus is to be UCC’s Western Region Campus focused on Tourism and Hospitality; Health and Wellness and a Boutique Hotel. The Holland Estate university town is expected to have several essential services for a university, including banks, cambios, supermarkets and health facilities. It is located 2 miles or 5 minutes drive from Falmouth.
If UCC succeeds, it will become the second university in Trelawny, as the University of Technology is already based at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, with its main office located in the old Baptist Manse on Market Street.
We wish the University College of the Caribbean all the best as we welcome the investment with all the long term benefits that it holds for the town of Falmouth, and the parish of Trelawny on a whole.
The University College of the Caribbean (UCC), Jamaica’s largest privately held tertiary education institution and one of the ranking top four recognized universities with accredited programmes in the island, is preparing to launch the first ever IPO by a college or university in Jamaica. Led by Dr. Winston Adams, UCC’s President, and with major business partners in tow, the UCC will officially announce its plans at the Jamaican Diaspora Conference at the Montego Bay Convention Center, June 15-18, 2015.
Based on the pool of assets, the experience of the players and the strength of the plans, the UCC initiative has been welcomed by the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The IPO will be positioned to raise US$10 million of capital funding.
