The University of the West Indies (UWI) has broken ground for additional student housing at its Mona campus in St Andrew.

The UWI says new housing development will enable the institution to provide accommodation for an additional 1,584 students over the next three years.

It says the first set of 576 units will be delivered in time for the start of the 2015/2016 academic year.

The UWI says the project is being facilitated through a public-private partnership between The UWI, Mona and developers and proposed operator of the new residences, 138 Student Living Jamaica.

It says under the terms of the partnership, 138 Student Living will design, build and operate the high quality student accommodations on lands leased from The UWI, Mona.

At the end of the lease period and in accordance with the agreed terms, 138 Student Living will transfer the buildings in good condition to The UWI free of cost.

UWI Mona Principal, Professor Archibald McDonald says the project represents a new direction for funding tertiary education in Jamaica and the Caribbean.

Professor McDonald notes that there is a supply gap of acceptable on-campus student accommodation at Mona.

He says with a population of some 15,000 students, The UWI, Mona has just 3,500 rooms, resulting in a significant shortfall in the housing stock on Campus.

He says the housing project is also important as the university is expecting to receive students from the USA and Nigeria at the Mona campus.

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