Achievement of the above goals will require as a first step, re-visiting and understanding the diverse needs of stakeholders in the 15 countries served by the UWI. The goals and resources available to branches of the UWI in countries with Campuses (Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad) are in many ways different from the other 12 countries without Campuses (these latter 12 have traditionally been referred to as "Non-Campus Countries", but in the hope of finding a less negative depiction, I have introduced the term "UWI-12 Countries"). To understand and plan to meet the needs of these diverse stakeholders, my first goal on assuming the Office of Vice Chancellor was to spend time "listening to and assessing" their needs. Hence, one of my major goals during my first year was meeting and listening to leaders of Government, the Private Sector, Regional and International Organizations, as well as other stakeholders in CARICOM Countries, both those that contribute to UWI and those who do not, such as Guyana and Suriname.

I have met with Prime Ministers, Education Ministers and other Government officials in Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, The British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Cayman, Montserrat and Guyana. Meetings in Belize and Anguilla will occur in the near future. In addition, I have had discussions with leaders of several regional and international organizations including CARICOM, the OECS, CDB, ECCB, UNDP, CIDA, IDB and representatives of the European Union. Formal presentations have been made to several bodies including the Jamaica Cabinet, CARICOM leadership, CDB, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Education of the Eastern Caribbean. In an effort to share my vision for UWI, I have conducted several radio and newspaper interviews in many of the countries visited. Recognising that UWI must establish a more robust presence outside the region where there are larger populations of Caribbean emigrants and UWI graduates, I have met and addressed Alumni Associations in New York and Toronto and met with individuals connected with the Caribbean media in New York.

It was as important to meet with internal as with external constituents. Hence, I have made presentations and held meetings with student leaders (both undergraduate and graduate, as well as those registered in Distance Education courses), academic and non-academic staff on the three major campuses, alumni associations, and students in the UWI-12 countries.