The University of Trinidad and Tobago

The Co-operative (Co-op) Approach

UTT uses the Co-op approach in the delivery of its programmes. The Co-op approach is a structured educational strategy that combines institutional learning with relevant practical experience in the workplace.

Advantages to the Student of the Co-op approach include:

• Gaining valuable work experience
• Personal and professional development
• Refinement of interpersonal skills
• Provision of partial funds for educational costs (paid work experience)
• Establishment of professional contact with employers
• Focus on career direction and options
• Testing of classroom theory in a practical work environment
• Improvement of written and oral communication skills
• Enhancement of academic knowledge

Improvement of employment possibilities upon graduation

Facilities

The University of Trinidad and Tobago is a multi-campus facility with major campuses located as follows

• O'Meara Campus; (Post Graduate and BSc. Programmes);
• Point Lisas Campus, John S. Donaldson Campus and San Fernando Campus (Process & Utilities Engineering Technology Certificates, Diplomas and Bachelor of Engineering programmes);
• Chaguaramas Campus (Maritime Studies)
• Valsayn Campus and Corinth Campus (Learning , Cognition and Education) and;
• The Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (E.C.I.A.F.) Campus (Food Production).

Construction has commenced on the Tamana InTech Park, Wallerfield, site of the University's Signature Complex and Main Campus (Headquarters, information Technology and other programmes).

All Centres of Study include state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities to support the University's programmes. Laboratories are intended to closely simulate the equipment and materials that graduates will encounter in the workplace. 

Experience in such laboratories, facilities and systems, gives the students an advantage upon entry into the workplace. 

Advisory Committees

UTT works very closely with Advisory Committees in order to ensure that its programme offerings are relevant to the needs of the various sectors that it serves.

Working together with these Committees, UTT administrators and instructors ensure that all curricula are stakeholder-driven. Through such extensive use of the Advisory Committees, UTT ensures that the needs of local companies and the changes occurring in the workplace are continuously monitored and appropriate modifications reflecting these needs and changes are made in the curricula. 

Human Resources

UTT's Academic Staff consists of individuals who are highly skilled, experienced and qualified in their areas of expertise. In order to teach in certificate and diploma level programmes, academic staff will normally have a minimum qualification of a Bachelor's degree along with several years of relevant occupational/teaching experience. Senior academic staff teaching upper level courses must normally possess a Master's degree or Doctorate along with significant relevant occupational/teaching experience.

UTT also maintains a large pool of qualified part-time instructors who are currently employed in their fields of specialization. The University's approach with respect to the qualifications and experience of its instructors, ensures that the academic staff is well prepared to bring to the classroom today's solutions to the problems encountered in the world of work.