The University of the West Indies has provided the English speaking Caribbean region with its current leaders in government, business, education, law, engineering, medicine and many other key public and private sectors. It is probably the only university in the world that can boast eight Prime Ministers among its graduates.

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica,  The Rt. Hon. P.J. Patterson, receiving the Chancellor’s Medal.

Prime ministers include: 

Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony – P.M., St. Lucia;
The Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur – former P.M., Barbados;
Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas – P.M., St. Kitts & Nevis;
Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves  – P.M., St. Vincent & the Grenadines;
The Hon. Patrick Manning – P.M., Trinidad and Tobago;
Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell – P.M., Grenada;
The Rt. Hon. P.J. Patterson – former P.M., Jamaica;                                
The Hon Erskine Sandiford – former P.M., Barbados.

The UWI has also nurtured two Nobel Laureates - Sir Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott, several Rhodes Scholars and Dignitaries such as: Professor Norman Girvan (former Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States), Professor Compton Bourne (President of the Caribbean Development Bank ),The Hon Edwin Carrington (Secretary General of CARICOM) and  Sir Dwight Venner ( Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank).

The UWI is known internationally for academic and research excellence and within the region, it stands proud as an icon for the promotion of Caribbean integration, culture and pride. The “UWI Spirit” shines brightly as the institution continues to transform in order to ensure relevance, innovation and excellence within the dynamic realities of the 21st century.