A Tribute to Mr Kenneth Carter, Former Resident Tutor, The UWI School of Continuing Studies, Jamaica
(with Extracts from Fergus, H., Bernard, L., Soares J., 2007. Breaking Down the Walls
An Evolution of the Extra-Mural Department: The University of the West Indies 1947-2000)
Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Jamaica. September 23, 2020. The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus is saddened by the loss of Mr Kenneth Carter, Former Resident Tutor of The UWI Extra-Mural Department and the School of Continuing Studies who passed away on Thursday, September 9, 2020. Mr Carter served the University for 26 years from 1977 to his retirement in 2003. His years of service spans both the Jamaica Western and Eastern Sites.
His UWI Stewardship
Mr Kenneth 'Ken' Carter began his sojourn at the then UWI Extra-Mural Department in 1977 as Resident Tutor (Ag) at the Jamaica Western Site, Montego Bay. He succeeded the late Professor Aggrey Brown in 1979 as Resident Tutor for Jamaica Eastern, while still managing the Jamaica Western Site. He was given the mandate to lead the Extra-Mural Department into the decade of the 1980s, which was an era of political and economic changes. With his expertise and in keeping with the entrepreneurship spirit of the time, he brought to the department a wide range of skills in business, management and agro-industry. He gave priority attention to areas of operational, administrative and human management and started offering courses in Business and Industrial Psychology, Small Business Management, Finance and Supervisory Management and Applied Industrial and Human Relations at the Centre. Within three years, under Carter's management the Centre became financially sound. He continued to design more courses that were well-needed for the business sector which included the Law of Succession, Residential Appraisal Practice and Credit Union Accounting.
In 1983, under the leadership of Mr Carter, a Centre was established in Mandeville to extend the reach of the extra-mural programme. Special programmes in agro-industry, goat rearing, chicken farming, weed control and field sanitation were also initiated in St. Mary, Portland, St. Ann and Westmoreland in response to the needs of these communities. A special pilot project in the farming of red peas and pumpkin was also implemented under the auspices of the Caribbean Basin Initiative.
Mr Carter was astute in his relationship with the business community and in 1984 he conceptualised, designed, implemented and managed a programme for retired employees of Alcan Bauxite Company. The programme involved counselling, the effective use of leisure, money management, how to start and operate a small business, farm management, and practical and actual assistance in the writing of loan proposals.
As he continued to highlight the importance of entrepreneurial skills, Mr Carter, introduced courses at the Montego Bay Centre in tourism related skills, concentrating on topics such as small business operations, public administration, finance, banking and accounting. The Centres prospered especially, Jamaica Eastern, attracting corporate, legal, medical and technical professionals as learners.
The year 1988 was one of the Department’s most successful, with a total enrolment of almost 10,000 students. Student uptake increased dramatically in some subject areas: 550 per cent in courses related to personnel management; 100 per cent in practical nursing and 75 per cent in professional programmes. In a creative and insightful move, the indomitable Mr Carter, who was alert to the needs of ordinary citizens, implemented courses for approximately 500 members of Informal Commercial Importers (higglers) in the field of small business. The impact of the institution on this group of sole traders was very gratifying and reinforced the feeling by some that the Extra-Mural Department was indeed the ‘social conscience’ of the University.
His UWI Legacy
Inadequate physical facilities proved a perennial challenge for the entire Extra-Mural Department. Jamaica’s experience was no different. However, at the turn of the decade of the nineties Mr Carter pulled off a major coup. Having achieved financial self-sufficiency, he purchased lands for expansion adjacent to the School of Continuing Studies (SCS), Camp Road at a cost of J $2.5 million. A car park with the capacity for 50 cars, new classrooms, toilet facilities, a gymnasium and a building for computer studies were established. The facilities were opened by then Vice-Chancellor, Sir Alistair McIntyre. At the opening ceremony, Mr Carter, in his inimitable style, presented J$650,000 for the establishment of a Scholarship and Development Fund for the SCS Camp Road Centre. In addition, he acquired books for the library valued at J$380,000 and magnanimously made a personal donation of J$200,000.
In 1990, a new Resident Tutor was appointed at Jamaica Western and Mr Carter could now channel all his time and energy to the continued development of the Jamaica Eastern Centre. In his continued quest to fulfil the educational needs of the communities, a special project was established for the Jamaica Constabulary Force whereby the Centre awarded 39 scholarships in management development. Despite competition from other institutions offering similar programmes, the Centre held its own with 12,000 students. The Computer Centre was upgraded at a cost of J$3 million. The computer programmes in that year had over 3,000 students and was recognised as the largest such facility in the Caribbean.
Another achievement which brought great pride to Mr Carter was The UWI’s recognition of the Centre’s courses for matriculation purposes. This was something for which he had long agitated. Courses such as; Applied Industrial Relations, Business Studies, Manpower Planning and Development, Marketing, Personnel Administration, Psychological Studies, Small Business Management and Supervisory Management were recognised for matriculation into UWI degree programmes. This decision saw certificate holders in several professional courses offered by the School of Continuing Studies (now The UWI Open Campus) Jamaica Eastern who obtained at least four CSEC/GCE O level passes being granted normal matriculation into degree programmes at the University. This was a major addition to Mr Carter's arsenal of achievements.
The end of the millennium came with relatively high growth and success. Jamaica Eastern continued to grow exponentially, especially its computer programmes, which generated significant income. The student enrolment figure reached approximately 15,000 and, in keeping with Carter’s financial wizardry, all courses operated at about 68.4 per cent above break-even, thereby generating useful surpluses.
Mr Carter was a true trailblazer and an entrepreneur par excellence. He understood the relevant training needs of the society and did not hesitate to implement initiatives aimed at helping persons to achieve
their full potential. He had a keen understanding of the challenges workers faced. Some of these were reflected in his book, Why Workers Won't Work: The Worker in a Developing Country, A Case Study of Jamaica which was published in 1997.
His Character - Personal Tributes From Those Who Have Worked With Him
Dr Luz Longsworth, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal, The University of the West Indies, Open Campus
“Ken Carter was a visionary who embodied the spirit of the then School of Continuing Studies, now a part of the Open Campus. He was a champion of bringing lifelong learning to people wherever they were in Jamaica. Thousands of Jamaicans benefited from his innovative approach to training persons who would normally have been left out of the formal education system - the successful training programmes for the Itinerant Commercial Investors was one such programme that was an amazing transformational experience for hundreds of women in particular. Additionally, he was one of the first social entrepreneurs within The UWI, ensuring the financial growth of the Camp Road Site while being true to its mission of lifelong learning. In that regard the Spirit of Ken Carter lives on within the Open Campus. I send my sincerest condolences to his widow Dr Sheila Carter and the family. May he Rest In Peace."
Dr Cheryl Solely, Director Open Campus Country Sites (OCCS), The University of the West Indies, Open Campus
“I submit without fear of contradiction, that Mr Kenneth Carter was one of the most entrepreneurial and philanthropic males to have served as a member of staff of the previous UWI Extra Mural/School of Continuing Studies (SCS) Department. It was well known then that Mr Carter was on the cusp of retirement, however my first impression upon meeting him, was that he belied the chronological age that was ascribed to him. Ken Carter in 2002 was strong, agile, energetic, immensely personable and contagiously business-like. He is credited for single-handedly and creatively converting a not-for-profit UWI Extra-Mural Centre into a booming cash cow for the then School of Continuing Studies.”
“The affection of the staff for one so generous and philanthropic was palpable and this affection continued months into his retirement and well into my tenure, having succeeded him in 2002. The lessons learnt from Mr Kenneth Carter, have left an indelible impression on my professional career. I owe a debt of gratitude to him. Rest in Peace Mr Carter – Your candle burned out long before your Legend ever will.”
Mrs Gillian Glean-Walker, Former Head, School of Continuing Studies, Jamaica Eastern
“Ken Carter’s keen entrepreneurial ability allowed him to identify a need, and then take it from idea to reality. Under his leadership, the UWI benefited from the dramatic development and growth of its Camp Road Centre. During his 20-year tenure as Camp Road’s Resident Tutor, thousands of Jamaicans were given the opportunity to acquire new skills, and for many, this allowed them to matriculate into undergraduate programmes. Jamaica Eastern Camp Road became the place to offer many a second chance at formal education, and a better chance at making a significant contribution to Jamaica’s development. He has made an outstanding contribution, and has left an indelible mark. May he Rest In Peace.”
The University of the West Indies Open Campus offers its sincere condolences to his widow Dr Sheila Carter and all his family and friends. May his soul Rest In Peace.
Mr Kenneth Carter
-End-
About The UWI
For over 70 years The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has provided service and leadership to the Caribbean region and wider world. The UWI has evolved from a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948 to an internationally respected, regional university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and an Open Campus. As part of its robust globalization agenda, The UWI has established partnering centres with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, and Africa including the State University of New York (SUNY)-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development; the Canada-Caribbean Studies Institute with Brock University; the Strategic Alliance for Hemispheric Development with Universidad de los Andes (UNIANDES); the UWI-China Institute of Information Technology, the University of Lagos (UNILAG)-UWI Institute of African and Diaspora Studies and the Institute for Global African Affairs with the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences and Sport.
As the region’s premier research academy, The UWI’s foremost objective is driving the growth and development of the regional economy. The world’s most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education, has ranked The UWI among the top 600 universities in the world for 2019, and the 40 best universities in Latin America and the Caribbean for 2018 and 2019.The UWI has been the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists. For more, visit www.uwi.edu.
(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI)
