The University of the West Indies

OURFP History

In 2019, The UWI was chosen to lead the International Association of Universities’ (IAU) Global Cluster on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD), which includes 16 universities across five UNESCO regions. This appointment highlighted The UWI’s decades of contributions to climate change and sustainable development through initiatives such as climate modeling, environmental protection, marine ecosystem research, disaster risk reduction, and climate and ecosystem policy development.

In 2023, The UWI launched the One UWI Responsible Futures Programme (OURFP), a student-driven thrust to integrate sustainability and the UN SDGs in phases, into all aspects of The UWI’s teaching, research, operations, waste management, facilities, infrastructure, procurement, strategic planning, policymaking, human resource training and its community outreach. 

The UWI STAT (Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow) Vice Chancellor’s Ambassadorial Corps was the student group chosen to lead as they have an established reputation for climate action and advocacy. The Guild Presidents are ex-officio UWI STAT Ambassadors and will also lead and partner with the UWI STAT Corps to involve the entire student body in the OURFP.    

In February 2025, the UN Academic Impact Committee designated The UWI as the global hub for Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action (SDG 13).

In 2024, the International School for Development Justice was established to offer online postgraduate degrees on the SDGs.

The OURFP integrates sustainability into The UWI’s curriculum, co-curricular activities, and operations in alignment with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations. This student-driven initiative is led by the Vice Chancellor’s UWI STAT Ambassadorial Corps, recognized for its leadership in climate action and advocacy.

The UWI’s commitment to sustainability reflects its responsibility to future generations, focusing on continuous improvement, accountability, and excellence. Through the OURFP, The UWI leads the Caribbean’s sustainable development efforts by:

  1. Curriculum Integration: Embedding sustainability concepts across academic disciplines to equip graduates with the tools for sustainable development.
  2. Research and Innovation: Driving research and fostering innovation to address sustainability challenges aligned with the SDGs.
  3. Community Engagement: Partnering with communities to implement sustainable projects and amplify impact.
  4. Accreditation and Standards: Regularly updating programmes to meet international standards and incorporate evolving sustainability criteria.

The UWI, a global leader in sustainability, spearheads initiatives like the IAU’s Global Cluster on HESD and the student-driven OURFP to address climate change and sustainable development challenges. Designated as the global hub for SDG 13, The UWI integrates sustainability into its curriculum, research, community outreach, and programme standards while fostering innovation and collaboration. Through these efforts, The UWI exemplifies its commitment to shaping a sustainable Caribbean future.