NCU expanding computer science and nursing programmes - Jamaica Observer

NCU's robotics and artificial quality laboratory (Photo: Kasey Williams)

MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The Northern Caribbean University (NCU), based successful this south-central Jamaica town, is revelling successful the maturation of its machine accusation subject and nursing departments with robotic and simulation instrumentality being utilised for the payment of its students.

NCU's president Dr Lincoln Edwards said the robotics equipment, which were donated to the assemblage by the Whitford and Inga Reid Foundation 3 years ago, is being utilised successful an artificial quality lab.

"It allows our students to get learning connected state-of-the-art equipment. We person 3D printers, we person robots that tin beryllium programmed, truthful they tin signifier their programming skills… We person the motortruck simulator that has been developed here. You tin larn to thrust a motortruck connected the simulator astatine NCU," Dr Edwards told the Jamaica Observer connected Wednesday.

He was speaking during a circuit of the assemblage by United States Ambassador to Jamaica N Nick Perry.

"I americium excited. The ambassador is pleased with his sojourn and we bask what we are doing present and we got a accidental to showcase the assemblage and truthful acold the ambassador and his squad are pleased with what they see. The robots section was a acquisition from the Whitford and Inga Reid Foundation," said Dr Edwards.

Damion Mitchell, adjunct provost and seat of NCU's CIS section said the robotics and artificial quality laboratory is assisting students successful processing their programming skills.

"This is the laboratory that houses each our robots, 3D printing and A1 benignant implements on with our augmented world and virtual world VR) sets. We really started successful the past 3 years with the gathering retired of this space, we anticipation to grow it to see different simulation benignant effects," helium said.

"This country volition springiness students the applicable vulnerability to use their programming skills successful hardware technically, due to the fact that the robots and VR are present applying that to it. The programme volition further grow the repertoire of our students successful presumption of not conscionable a programming approach, but besides our hardware and A1 components," helium added.

Mitchell told the Sunday Observer that NCU is hopeful to go an "organiser of robotic competitions crossed the country, particularly successful precocious schools".

The Seventh-day Adventist–run assemblage was handed a cheque worthy $500,000 done the NCB Foundation's 2022 Grant a Wish programme. The assemblage was chosen arsenic a beneficiary of the programme by NCB president Michael Lee Chin.

The concern mogul is credited for gathering and equipping the Hyacinth Chen School of Nursing – named successful honour of his mother, Hyacinth Chen – connected NCU's campus.

Dr Edwards lauded Lee Chin and the NCB Foundation for supporting NCU.

Dr Nikki McLean, adjunct prof and manager of simulation and innovation astatine the Hyacinth Chen School of Nursing, told the Sunday Observer that the nursing programme is being improved done simulation.

"We are formalising the acquisition for the students utilising mannequins arsenic a modality for learning," she said.

"The aforesaid arsenic however we would person them successful the schoolroom oregon person them successful the infirmary moving with patients, we really person them successful a harmless situation moving connected a mannequin. They larn from their mistakes successful a harmless way, truthful that erstwhile they really spell retired and are taking attraction of existent patients they would person been competent and comfy successful providing attraction to patients," she added.

(From left) NCU president Dr Lincoln Edwards, seat of the NCB Foundation Thalia Lyn, United States Ambassador to Jamaica N Nick Perry and Dr Robert Chen airs for a photograph op with a $500,000 cheque from the NCB Foundation. Dr Chen, lad of the precocious Hyacinth Chen, represented his member and concern mogul Michael Lee-Chin. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

(From left) Dr Nikki McLean, adjunct prof and manager of simulation and innovation astatine the Hyacinth Chen School of Nursing, is joined by second-year NCU nursing students Pakyce Peterkin, Lanoya Harris, Brenda-Kaye Bartley and Danielle Robertson for a photograph with a mannequin successful the facility. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

NCU's robotics and artificial quality lab. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

United States Ambassador to Jamaica N Nick Perry is guided by NCU teacher Earlando Tracey successful utilizing an articulated truck-driving simulator. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

United States Ambassador to Jamaica N Nick Perry (centre) observes robots controlled by Damion Mitchell (left), adjunct provost and seat of NCU's CIS department. Looking connected is NCU's president Dr Lincoln Edwards. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

United States Ambassador to Jamaica N Nick Perry (left) looks connected arsenic second-year NCU nursing pupil Pakyce Peterkin utilises a mannequin astatine the Hyacinth Chen School of Nursing. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

President of the Northern Caribbean University Dr Lincoln Edwards (left) welcomes United States Ambassador to Jamaica N Nick Perry to the assemblage past Wednesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)