UWI Poised to Drive Regional Transformation and Global Leadership

The University of the West Indies (UWI) is well-positioned to serve the Caribbean region, focusing on its future development and growth. At the annual business meeting of the University Council on Friday, April 26, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles declared that the university is "now in a position to serve our people even more fundamentally, in terms of their transformation."

Why this matters: The University of the West Indies' strategic initiatives and commitment to regional development have far-reaching implications for the Caribbean region's economic growth and social transformation. As a leading institution in the region, UWI's success can have a ripple effect on the entire Caribbean, inspiring innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

Reflecting on the university's 75 years of service, Beckles highlighted UWI's many achievements, including establishing itself as a global, first-class ranked, activist university. The university has met targets set in the first phase of its strategic plan, focusing on regional transformation and global leadership. UWI has positioned itself as a strategic partner on regional and international concerns, such as pursuing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reparatory justice, and collaborations with Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America.

The university has secured significant revenue-earning projects, including a renewed MOU between UWItv and Flow, a US$300,000 repair consultancy program funded by Digicel, and a US$700,000 donation from the Open Society Foundations towards research and participation in the reparations movement. UWI has also received properties worth US$500,000 from UK philanthropist, the late Bridget Freeman, as a reparatory justice initiative. The university has moved its balance sheet from "red to black" through new externally funded projects, with a university-wide target income of US$50 million annually established in 2021.

UWI continues to make strategic advancements, with the Five Islands Campus receiving a US$80 million Development Fund from the Saudi Development Fund and the launch of a US$6 million digital transformation program supported by the Caribbean Development Bank. The St Augustine campus has launched a regional MSc in Climate Studies, and the university has introduced a foreign language policy to establish UWI as a multi-lingual university. The new International School for Development Justice (ISDJ) has been created, offering online MA and MSc degrees in the 17 UN SDGs, and the UWI Global Campus (formerly Open Campus) brand has been launched.

The University Council meeting also marked a leadership transition, with Chancellor Robert Bermudez presiding over the meeting for the last time as its Chair, as his term of office comes to an end this year. The Most Honourable Dr Dodridge D. Miller will begin his chancellorship on August 1, 2024. With its strong leadership, strategic initiatives, and commitment to regional development, UWI is well-equipped to drive the Caribbean's transformation and growth in the years to come.

Key Takeaways

• UWI is well-positioned to serve the Caribbean region, focusing on future development and growth.
• UWI has achieved global recognition, ranking as a first-class university and meeting strategic plan targets.
• The university has secured significant revenue-earning projects, including a US$700,000 donation for reparations research.
• UWI has made strategic advancements, including a US$80 million Development Fund and a digital transformation program.
• The university has undergone a leadership transition, with Dr Dodridge D. Miller set to become the new Chancellor on August 1, 2024.