My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica: How MICO University College use of ePay is Mobile Money for Miconians as Cross Roads goes Cashless

Sunday, October 2, 2016

How MICO University College use of ePay is Mobile Money for Miconians as Cross Roads goes Cashless

“Alliance is elated to be partnering with such an important institution as The Mico University College. Our technology will save the university time and money, while providing the security, safety and efficiency that a cashless system brings to an educational institution”

Director, Alliance Payment Services Ltd., Peter Chin, commenting on the deal with the MICO University College

Miconians, it’s finally happening at the MICO University College. 

Even as hurricane Matthew approaches in the next 24 to 36 hours as noted in the article “UPDATE: Hurricane Matthew Now Moving Northward Slightly Away From Jamaica”, published Saturday October 1, 2016, The Jamaica Gleaner.

My school is finally going cashless as declared in the article “Mico Goes Cashless - EPay To Power New System”, published Sunday October 2, 2016, The Jamaica Gleaner.

The 2016/2017 MICO University College Students have been issued with new ID's that have an ePay option as show with the picture of my ID below.

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I'm currently at the MICO University College in my 5th Semester of the Professional Diploma in Teaching. It's basically a program for professionals that already have a degree or years of experience in Business, Science or the Art who are seeking accreditation to become teachers.

It's based on Alliance Payment Services Ltd ePay platform as described in my blog article entitled “Alliance Financial Services Limited's ePay will beat Scotiabank and NCB's in Mobile Money Revolution”.

The ePay cashless school programme being implemented by the MICO University College to more effectively manage and control:

1.      Admissions/registrations
2.      Payment
3.      Meal management

I'll allow MICO Students to:

1.      Campus access to room that require a swipe
2.      Settling payments e.g. library book, tuition
3.      Purchases both on and off campus e.g. books, fast food outlets, Movie theatre
4.      Use Dorm Facilities e.g. purchase meals at the Cafeteria

So how exactly does it work?

MICO University College ePay cashless school programme - Mobile money for Miconians

The ePay cashless is basically a swipe card built into the MICO Student's ID. It has the ePay logo on the front and uses the Magnetic strip on the back of the card.

MICO University has installed Card reader all over campus to enable ePay transactions, so Miconians have no excuse to avoid upgrading their ID’s.

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The Cashless School System powered by ePay is the technology solution that allows for efficient management of campus resources and the collection of money from financial transactions while student are on campus. It makes it easier to track payments and receipts and may potentially be used to pay MICO University Staff fees and expenses i.e. petty cash.

This system does away with traditional paper based accounting systems that generate tons of paper receipts relating to payments. This makes reconciling payments easier as all payments made to and from the MICO University Bursar.

The Bursar can be do settlements, reconciliations of payment as well as quarterly and yearly audits via the centralized ePay cashless school programme that has online real-time access for reporting payment activities.

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This move is a lot like the GOJ's (Government of Jamaica) move towards Electronic Transactions, be it Debit, Credit or Mobile Money as noted in my blog article entitled my blog article entitled “How Electronic Transactions in Jamaica can eliminate Hidden Economy via Universal Consumption Taxation”.

Electronic Transactions, be it Debit, Credit or Mobile Money used on freely accessible websites as listed in my Geezam blog article entitled “How Jamaicans on FLOW and Digicel access GOJ Websites without a Data Plan” potentially projected to increase tax collection in Jamaica.

This as Electronic transitions eliminates the possibility of corruption and makes it easier to track payments. In a similar light, the MICO University College is merely implementing this to fight internal corruption within the University as it relates to payments from students and other business entities that carry out transactions with the MICO University College.

Easier life for Students – Miconians ambassadors for ePay Mobile money 

The ePAY Program will make life easier for students.

Yes, in case you’re wondering, it's a lot like the NCB Quisk which has already bested the CONEC Mobile Wallet as explained in my blog article entitled “How NCB Quisk Compares to CONEC Mobile Wallet as Jamaica goes Cashless”.

It can be topped up both at the MICO as well as at any location that allows you to use ePay. Best of all, student can lend each other cash or pay for services via the ePay App on their Google Android smartphones.

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They'll be able to more effectively track their meals at the Cafeteria, as they'll only be able to make purchases of food using the ePay Card as no cash will be accepted. Even paying for Library books will be done via the ePay system, making robberies on campus a thing of the past, as all money will be in you school ID.

So Miconians, you’ll need to upgrade to the new ePay enabled ID, with is covered by the very mysterious and ever-growing miscellaneous fees. You’ll always need to have your MICO ID on you if you want to purchase items on campus. Not only is it convenient, but it’ll make it harder for thieves to steal your money.

Best of all for MICO Students, it’ll make it easier for parents. Patents will be able to send their little Miconian money direct to their ePay card from their bank accounts via the ePay online platform, even on the Weekends.

So in a nutshell, the ePay Card School Program is Mobile money for Miconians. It’ll makes managing payments and doing financial audits for the MICO University College easier as well as help students manage the transition to becoming a Miconian.

It may even help in the proliferation of Mobile Money among Jamaicans and High School Students in the Cross Roads Area and beyond; Miconians as Ambassadors of ePay.


Now if only we could get Miconians to wear their ID’s around their neck, then all would be right on the campus!

Here's the link:

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