Outreach

The core function of the Mona Information Technology Services (MITS) is to implement, support and manage the technologies and the technology strategy in support of the academic and the business functions of The University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.  While the MITS continues to play its part “to advance learning, create knowledge and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean and the wider world” (The UWI Triple A Strategy 2017–2022 and 2022-2027), it has also become diversified in the areas of outreach and nation building. Initiatives of this nature are aimed at unlocking the potential of the productive population and revitalising the development of our nation. The MITS is therefore proud to move beyond its principal roles and responsibilities to incorporate and drive transformational initiatives for the advancement of human capacity building.  Some of the initiatives that the MITS is involved in, include, supporting excellence in various forms and is therefore providing opportunities through training and “information literacy skills” development. Additionally, the MITS is also extending support through charity projects and making available access by way of bursaries to primary and high school students from the Mona and adjoining communities.   
                                                                                                

The Past Intern Knowledge Empowerment (PIKE)–Professional Development Training Seminar

In June 2015, the Mona Information Technology Services established the Past Intern Knowledge Empowerment (PIKE) annual professional training seminar to improve work standards, professionalism and proficiency in serving our customers. The PIKE was also introduced in response to the public’s perception that universities were not preparing ‘work-ready’ graduates and that many graduates were lacking social and professional competencies. The PIKE engages past student-workers of the MITS who are now professionals, to participate in the one-day training seminar. These selected past student-workers are invited as special training facilitators to, in a way of ‘giving back’, empower the present interns who are providing high priority services to the students and other stakeholders of this institution. The founder and director of the PIKE, Ms Janice Brown (MITS-USS, Manager), also invites special guest speakers to further equip and inspire the interns, so that they can seize valuable and gainful employment opportunities in the world of work. On this account, the efforts of the programme are all geared towards “positive transformation through efficient and effective alignment with society and economy,” as cited in The University of the West Indies Triple A Strategy (2017–2022 and 2022-2027).

Excellence, Strategy and Alignment are words that can be used to describe the initiatives that the MITS has taken to improve the service standards to the Campus community and to grant its interns the opportunity to not only learn and earn, but importantly, to acquire a wide range of skills and business process techniques. The PIKE contributes significantly to service excellence and to the customer experience, judging the testimonials that the MITS continue to receive for the outstanding performance in service delivery over time. Moreover, a number of our past student-workers are occupying jobs outside of their respective disciplines due to the various marketable skills, both technical and professional, that they have acquired through the MITS’ internship programme. These skills along with higher level accredited certifications are deemed essential in today’s work environment. We are pleased to note that companies that have employed some of our past student-workers have been contacting us randomly in their quest for potential full-time employees.

MITS User Support Outreach Services|Engaging the young minds in Charity & Outreach Projects

The manager of the MITS User Support Services unit, Ms Janice Brown, through fundraising events in May 2016, launched the Take a Moment to Care (TMC) charity initiative. Ms Brown actively engages the mind of the young professionals (the future leaders) that are a part of her work team to be always mindful of the most vulnerable and the less fortunate among us. She encourages them to go above and beyond the daily demands of IT service delivery, and to extend their serving hands to those who are most in need.

The genesis of TMC led to the procurement of a washing machine for the Randolph Lopez School of Hope (RLSOH). A brief statement of appreciation from the principal reads, “The RLSOH acknowledges and honours the staff of the Mona Information Technology Services for their generous donation of a washing machine to be used in the Home Management Programme. This generous offer, reminds us of the importance of community building. Additionally, it was an appropriate gift that will lend support to the students by fostering the students’ home management skills, as well as promote the school’s mission statement which is, ‘preparing students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to take their rightful place in Jamaica’s ever-changing society, by giving them the tools to help themselves’. We are really elated that MITS came on board to support the work of the RLSOH and to bring hope to its children. Again, thank you so much for your gift. We greatly appreciate the assistance offered”!
 
Randolph Lopez Home of Safety
 

Randolph Lopez Home of SafetyIn participation and support of Child’s Month, 2016, the Take a Moment to Care initiative spearheaded by Ms Janice Brown, along with the USS team, joined the principal of the Randolph Lopez School of Hope (RLSOH), Mrs Sylvestina Reid, for the celebration of the School of Hope’s 2016 Children’s Day Event. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the MITS, Mr Jeremy Whyte, assisted with the handing over of a washing machine to the RLSOH’s Home Management Programme. 

 

The Walkers Place of Safety

MITS Staff with items to be given to Walkers Place of SafetyIn 2017 and again in 2018 TMC has the Walker’s Place of Safety on its charity priority list. Walker’s Place of Safety caters to children who are placed in state care. In January 2018, fire totally destroyed “the childcare facility on Lyndhurst Crescent that housed 36 children. In its wake, two of the wards were confirmed dead from the blaze.” http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20180122/walkers-place-safety-had-comprehensive-safety-plan. Take a Moment to Care is committed in playing its part in the restoration process of the Walker’s Place of Safety. 

 

The Good Samaritan Inn

The Good Samaritan InnThe Take a Moment to Care charity initiative selected The Good Samaritan Inn as the charity project for January 2020. This institution assists the needy and the homeless, by providing them with food, clothing, shelter and health services. The Mustard Seed Communities and the Missionaries of the Poor also benefited from TMC.

 

 

MITS Scholarship Fund

The goal of the MITS Scholarship Fund is to uplift our community by awarding bright, well-mannered and enthusiastic students in schools around The UWI area who may be facing financial challenges. The Scholarship Fund was founded in 2005 as the brainchild of Jennifer Lovelace (now retired staff member). When Jennifer shared her vision with other colleagues at MITS, we were excited to join in and contribute to such a noble endeavour. The fund membership consists of members of the MITS staff as well as other individuals from the wider UWI community. The award provides recipients with money which can be used for school books, uniforms, school and examinations’ fees. Each year we congratulate and recognize our awardees with an awards ceremony here at MITS. The awards ceremony also includes encouraging talks, presentations and performances.