Senator the Honourable Fazal Karim, Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, was the Featured Speaker at the successful launch of UTT’s Student Social Responsibility and Volunteerism Centre at the O’Meara Campus on Wednesday 18 April, 2012. Minister Karim extolled the benefits of this student-initiative and remarked that “Student Social Responsibility and Volunteerism was not a right but a privilege on the part of the person who takes up the mantle to serve”.
Minister Karim took the opportunity to assert the Government’s commitment to UTT, stating that Government’s mandate is the, “Expansion of the National University of Trinidad and Tobago, UTT”. Minister Karim also used the platform to announce the appointment of three (3) new Members of the Board of Governors of UTT: Mr. Winston Mohammed, Ms. Karen Ramsanahie and Bro. Michael Samuel. Chairman of the Board of Governors of UTT, Mr. Curtis R. Manchoon, was also on hand to deliver Remarks to the students and staff about the benefits of student social responsibility and volunteerism.
The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) successfully launched the Student Social Responsibility Centre at the O’Meara Campus on Wednesday 18 April, 2012. Senator the Honourable Fazal Karim, Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, has endorsed this initiative and was the Featured Speaker at the launch. Mr. Curtis R. Manchoon, Chairman of the Board of Governors at UTT, was also on hand to deliver Remarks at the launch and to sanction this student-driven initiative. Spearheaded in conjunction with UTT’s Student Services Unit, the Student Social Responsibility Centre will see a concerted move on the part of UTT students to explore all aspects of volunteerism as they work together with several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), many of whom were present at the launch of this initiative.
This Centre is in direct response to the Honourable Minister’s desire to see higher education students of Trinidad and Tobago become more integrated within their communities and society as a whole. This thrust toward social responsibility and community citizenship is a hallmark initiative of MSTTE and Minister Karim pledged that students should, “…not ignore this call to contribute” as failure to do so would result in them neglecting their own development.
As the National University of Trinidad and Tobago, UTT is committed to empowering students and graduates so that they too can heed the call to service. The Student Social Responsibility Centre will provide a wide array of community service and volunteering opportunities that will foster an appreciation and an understanding of individual social responsibility. Through civic engagement and stakeholder relationships, the launch of this initiative will foster societal development and the enhancement of individuals, families and communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
