On Monday, July 21, the Manchester based Closed to Crime Initiative (CTCI) launched the social leg of its crime-fighting campaign, the Empowered Youth Camp, at Northern Caribbean University. Being hosted under the theme, Lean on Me, the Empowered Youth Camp caters to selected youth from troubled communities in Mandeville and its environs including Georges Valley, Greenvale, Top Albion, Bottom Albion, Mile Gully, May Day and Cedar Grove. The Camp which began on July 20 will run through to the 27^th at the University’s Main Campus in Mandeville.

The work-study programme at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) dates back to the very founding of the university in 1907, and is, in fact, one of the pillars on which the university is built. Northern Caribbean University has as its mission, quality Christ-centred education, achieved through academic excellence, social interaction, physical and spiritual development and a strong work ethic, thereby fitting each student for committed professional service to country and to God. The NCU work-study programme teaches the students, the value of money and the value of time.  The students also learn lessons of economy, industry, self denial and practical business management.

The initial concept of commercializing breadfruit production bore fruit on Wednesday June 25, 2008 when the closing ceremony for the first leg of Northern Caribbean University’s Breadfruit Commercialization Project was held at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Orange River Research Station in Highgate, St. Mary. On that occasion, the first phase of the project, in which the team had conceptualized, formalized, accessed funding for, implemented, and monitored the project, came to an official end.

President of Northern Caribbean University, Dr. Herbert Thompson was the guest speaker at Belair School’s 40th Graduation Ceremony held on Thursday, June 26, 2008. The always vibrant and awe-inspiring speaker addressed the graduating class of just under 80, expounding on the topic, Exploring to Discover and Dreaming to Inspire, a variation of the graduation theme, Explore, Dream, Discover, Inspire.

Northern Caribbean University (NCU) partnered with the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries (ACURIL), to present the association’s annual conference from June 1-6, 2008 at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club, Montego Bay.

Ambassador, the Honourable Dr. Richard Bernal and the Honourable Margarett Best, Minister of Health Promotion, Province of Ontario, Canada, will be the Commencement Speakers at this year’s staging of Northern Caribbean University’s (NCU’s) Annual Commencement Exercises. NCU Commencement 2008 will be held on August 10 at the University’s main campus in Mandeville. At the two-part Commencement, Ambassador Bernal will deliver his address at the first commencement at 8:30 a.m., while Minister Best will address the commencement set for 4:30 p.m.

The Northern Caribbean University (NCU) Hyacinth Chen School of Nursing is well on the way toward its historic official opening on August 10, 2008. The much anticipated official opening will take place during the institution’s graduation weekend and has been fast-tracked to facilitate the start of the 2008/2009 academic year in August.