One hundred and thirteen students have benefitted from The Urban Development Corporation’s (UDC) ‘Summer Employment Programme’ which ran for the period July-August 2014. Students were drawn from various educational institutions across the island inclusive of the University of Technology, University of the West Indies, Excelsior Community College, Heart Vocational Training and Development Institution, Kingston College, Ocho Rios High School, College of Agriculture Science and Education, Hilda's Diocesan High School and Charlemont High School.
The programme which is implemented annually, is geared at providing work experience and internship opportunities for secondary and tertiary level students. According to Halcyon Henry, Chief Business Partner (Acting), UDC Corporate Services Division, ‘the Corporation realizes that in ensuring Jamaica’s overall development, attention must be paid to the impacting of the next generation on which the effectiveness of our human resource capital will be built.’
With the installation of this year’s programme, students have been provided with job experiences at UDC Corporate Office and its related entities including the St. Ann Development Company, Ocho Rios Commercial Centre and Runaway Bay Water Company. Mrs Henry further stated that students were assigned to the various locations based on their areas of study or interest so that the experience gained is one which will be of benefit to them professionally through the development of skills related to their career goals.
UDC is a leading multidisciplinary institution since 1968 and as such students were exposed to various professions inclusive of Project Management and Development, Human Resource and Administration, Corporate Relations and Marketing, Accounting, Architecture, Geographic Information Systems, Engineering, Quantity Surveying and Occupational Health and Safety.
UDC remains committed to making development happen for the people of Jamaica through its planning and implementation of development programmes while preserving the natural environment, traditions, customs and spurring economic development.