Mel Nathan College (MNC)

Mel Nathan College (MNC) functions as one of the two constituent Colleges of the International University of
the Caribbean (IUC) and began operation in September 2004, as the tertiary arm of the Mel Nathan Institute
for Development and Social Research (MNI).

MNI has operated as the human and community development agency of the United Church in Jamaica and
the Cayman Islands since 1978 and brings a mission-focussed approach to human and community
development. Drawing on a popular education mode of programme delivery, MNI has prided itself in what has
come to be appreciated as a practitioner's perspective on people empowerment and community development.
In operating as the tertiary arm of MNI, Mel Nathan College draws on this legacy of MNI and functions as the
beneficiary of the MNI history and ethos.

Mel Nathan College started by offering degrees in Community Development and Programme and Project
Management. It now offers a diploma in Early Childhood Education, in partnership with the Joint Board of
Teacher Education as well as degrees in Business Administration, Hospitality Management and Nursing.
The day programme offers both pre-University courses and degree programmes, primarily for school leavers.
Successful completion of the pre-university courses provides students with matriculation for the full degree
programmes.

As part of the IUC’s commitment to work with people to enable them to move from where they are to where
they want to go, Mel Nathan College has instituted ‘tailored programmes’ for persons who can gain credits
by taking selected University courses to equip them further to participate in community and nation building.
The first tailored programme was designed for community leaders from communities across the Kingston
and St Andrew Metropolitan Area, who were members of the Kingston and St Andrew Action Forum. Other
tailored programmes have been designed for community leaders from Allman Town, Fletchers Land and
Hannah Town. The college offers many tailored programmes with organisations which include the United
Nations Development Programme, Citizen Security and Justice Programme, Cornerstone Ministries, the
Environmental Foundation of Jamaica and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund. The college also designs
short courses for persons who wish to study particular aspects of one of the disciplines offered by IUC.

VISION STATEMENT

“Mel Nathan College will expand accessibility to higher education by functioning as a centre of excellence
in research, and as a service and production oriented learning institution focused on improving the quality
of life of our customers by equipping them with those skills and attributes which will make them valuable
contributors to the local, national and international communities in which they find themselves.”

MISSION STATEMENT

“Mel Nathan College aims at providing quality life-long learning and educational experiences against the
background of inclusiveness, flexibility, excellence, ethics and morality.”