The University Council of Jamaica (UCJ), established by the University Council of Jamaica ACT in October 1987. It is a statutory body currently under the portfolio of the Minister of Education and culture.

                                                
MISSION AND PURPOSE

The mission of UCJ is to increase the availability of University level training in Jamaica, through accreditation of institutions, courses and programmes for recognition and acceptability. The Council is empowered to confer degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic awards and distinctions on those who have pursued courses approved by the Council at associated tertiary institutions. 

FUNCTIONS

The UCJ functions essentially as an accrediting, awards and academic development body for degree, diploma and certificate programmes proposed and developed at approved tertiary institutions. Its main functions are:

1. To register institutions offering tertiary education to ensure that certain minimum standards are met with respect to:
   adequacy and suitability of physical facilities with regard to student enrolment.
   scope, appropriateness and educational value of institutional courses and experiences.
   qualifications and competence of staff.
   adequacy of resources e.g. library, computers, laboratories, to support the programmes.
   other operational factors.
2. To provide accreditation for degree and specialized programmes by:
   establishing and applying criteria for the accreditation of tertiary/higher educational programmes and courses of study.
   assisting "Associated Institutions" in the improvement of their educational programmes.
   encouraging and facilitating programmes related to national needs.
3. To assist in the development of tertiary institutions by providing professional advice and services for the development and improvement of programmes.
4. To award degrees, diplomas and certificates to students who have pursued such courses at approved tertiary institutions in Jamaica.
5. To study current issues in post-secondary education with a view to maintaining and improving educational standards.
6. To provide appropriate public information about the institutions and programmes registered and accredited by the Council.
7. To co-ordinate the activities of the Joint Committee for Tertiary Education (JCTE).
8. To act as the national information centre for Jamaican tertiary qualifications.
9. To establish equivalence and facilitate local recognition of foreign qualifications.

HOW THE COUNCIL IS STRUCTURED

Members of the Council are drawn from the public and private sectors, professional bodies and societies and academic institutions in accordance with the University Council of Jamaica Act.

The Constitution of the Council is guided by the principles of:

a) Comparability of standards

Awards of the Council must be comparable in standard with those granted by Universities internationally. This is being ensured by the fact that at least one-third of its members are University Principals/Professors.

b) Relevance of programmes and awards

In order to ensure relevance, professional bodies and organizations as well as members of the public and private sectors are represented on the Council.

c) Participation

There is room on the Council for representatives from institutions whose programmes are accredited by the Council. A recent development has been the establishment of Academic Boards of Studies which have been mandated to put in place mechanisms for ensuring quality in the tertiary system at all times.

SOME IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS

Since its inception in 1987, the University Council of Jamaica has registered 47 tertiary  institutions ( public and private) that have met the  stated criteria of educational quality. The UCJ also currently monitors 154 programmes which it has accredited  in 34 institutions, including 18 offered by  9 overseas institutions. This represents an enrolment of over 50,000 students.

The Council has also distinguished itself in other areas. It has:

• Gained international acceptance;
• Gained national acceptance from employers, students, tertiary institutions and general public;
• Developed reciprocal relationships with similar bodies regionally and internationally;
• Assisted in institutional strengthening;
• Helped to provide access to tertiary education as the Council seeks to optimize the number of persons having an opportunity to pursue tertiary level programmes;
• Added to the pool of qualified persons in the Jamaican society. This can only augur well for our country by increasing Jamaica's competitive advantage in the global market place. A cadre of well-qualified persons, graduating from quality programmes which are recognized nationally, regionally and internationally, forms the basis of a productive workforce in which standards and competence are paramount;
• Instilled a quality assurance culture in the Jamaican education sector;
• Assisted in institutional strengthening;