The Mico University College proudly marked a historic milestone with the official launch of The Mico Publishers yesterday, May 13, 2025. This transformative initiative aims to reshape Caribbean educational scholarship by producing high-quality, culturally relevant academic content. 

The launch event was streamed live at https://youtube.com/live/zZMjEU8HtTA, and featured a book signing to introduce the debut publication, Marcus Garvey: Pedagogy and the Power of Education. This inaugural publication is a seminal work exploring the educational philosophies of Jamaica’s iconic national hero.

The launch and inaugural book release brought a distinguished group of speakers together. They included Dr. Asburn Pinnock, The Mico’s President; Professor Clinton Hutton, the Director of the Institute of Technological and Educational Research (ITER); Dr. Maziki Thame, a Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI); Professor Verene Shepherd, Professor Emeritus at UWI; Professor Rupert Lewis, Emeritus Professor of Political Thought at UWI; and Dr. Eduardo Ali, Pro-Registrar of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). 

Dr. Julius Garvey also joined online. He is a son of Marcus Garvey, and he outlined a poignant connection to the book’s subject. Other notable attendees included Dr. Pansy Hamilton and Mrs. Maria Jones of the Board of Directors, Ambassador Byron Blake, Ms. Winsome Hudson of the National Library of Jamaica, and Professor Errol Miller, a former Chancellor of Mico.

In his keynote address Dr. Pinnock reflected on The Mico’s 189-year legacy as the Western Hemisphere’s oldest teacher training institution, stating, “We are moving from being consumers of knowledge to creators, from importing foreign narratives to authoring our own”. He further noted that “This inaugural publication, rooted in rigorous scholarship, enhances global educational discourse by illuminating pedagogy and inclusive learning, echoing our mission since 1836”. The book was co-edited by some of the aforementioned scholars and promises to provide fresh insights into Marcus Garvey’s revolutionary vision of education as a transformative and liberating force.

Dr. Eduardo Ali of CXC emphasized the publication’s regional significance, noting that, “This seminal work provides the foundation for transformative pedagogies, contributing to the Caribbean-ness we seek in our content, and to the region’s overall human capital development”. He highlighted CXC’s ongoing partnership with The Mico and expressed enthusiasm for future collaborations designed to enhance educational outcomes across the region.

The launch also celebrated Mico’s historical roots, tracing back to the philanthropy of Lady Jane Mico and the anti-slavery advocacy of Sir Thomas Buxton, who helped established The Mico to educate the children of formerly enslaved people. The event also acknowledged the contributions of Professor Edwin Jones, whose vision for Caribbean scholarship led to the founding of The Mico Journal of Education, and Mrs. Sandra Grey-Alvaranga, ITER’s deputy Director and a key supporter of The Mico Publishers. 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony, led by Dr. Pinnock, Professor Hutton, and other dignitaries, symbolized the official opening of The Mico Publishers, with plans to expand its catalog by addressing curriculum gaps and amplifying the work of regional scholars like Professor Errol Miller and Professor Verene Shepherd. The Mico University College invites educators, students, authors, policymakers, and literary enthusiasts to join this new chapter in Caribbean publishing.

Interested individuals can submit their work, purchase books, or learn more by visiting https://themico.edu.jm.