About University of Trinidad and Tobago
The University of Trinidad and Tobago, also known as UTT, is a state owned university in Trinidad and Tobago established in 2004. UTT’s primary focus is on the development of Trinidad and Tobago. With its genesis in the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology (TTIT), UTT initially focused on programmes in engineering and technology. Today’s programmes, however, go far beyond engineering and technology to a fuller spectrum of educational opportunities where experiential learning programmes are incorporated into the traditional learning environment. Alternative avenues are also provided for persons to enter, exit and re-enter tertiary education. This kind of flexibility and integration within programmes; together with UTT’s leadership position in sector-driven research and innovative teaching methodologies, is a direct response to twenty-first century global trends. To date, UTT has graduated in excess of fifteen thousand (15,000) students.
Selected News from University of Trinidad and Tobago
University of Trinidad and Tobago CCI Director – Prof. Prakash Persad
University of Trinidad and Tobago is represented on the CCI Board of Directors by Prof. Prakash Persad.
Professor Prakash Persad, Professor of Mechatronics and Fellow of the Association of Professional Engineers of T&T, obtained the B.Sc. (Electrical Eng.) and the Ph.D. (Mechanical Eng.) from the University of the West Indies. He did postdoctoral work at The Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dalhousie Tech) and further professional training at MIT, USA and KISTEP-ISTIC, South Korea, in engines and fuels and science and innovation respectively.
Professor Persad is a former Head of the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UWI and has held the positions of Acting Provost, Associate Provost –Undergraduate Affairs and Associate Provost – Science, Engineering, Technology and Science Related Units at UTT. He is the Programme Professor for the Design and Manufacturing Programme.
He has served as External Examiner for the University of Guyana and Anna University, Chennai, India. He has also served as a Reviewer for several local, regional and international journals.
Professor Persad has over 100 referred technical papers, over 400 columns in the Trinidad Guardian, 25 presentations in the Hansard of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago in addition to several papers on Hinduism. He has successfully supervised 8 Ph.D., 5 M.Phil. and 40 M.Sc. projects.
Professor Persad was the winner of the Inaugural UTT Research Award, The Prime Minister’s Award for Invention and Innovation in addition to been awarded for his contributions to education and culture by the NRI Institute New Delhi, India and the Global TM Movement.
Professor Persad served as Senate Minority Leader of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Commissioner of the Port Authority and member of the Cabinet Appointed Committee on the Evaluation of Text Books.
Professor Persad received a grant of USD 1,000,000 from bptt, 50,000 euros from the Centre for Enterprise Development, The Dominican Republic and TT$100,000 from the UWI. He has consulted and done training courses for industry and business in Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia, St Vincent, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Professor Persad is a licensed Hindu Marriage Officer, Spiritual Leader of the Divya Ashram, Director of Swaha Inc. and obtained the first degree black belt from the Japan Karate Association.