The University of the West Indies is ready and willing to contribute to the formation of a wider Caribbean vision, even as we enter the next cycle of our own strategic planning. As we approach the end of our 2012-2017 Strategic Plan (http://www.uwi.edu/strategicplan.asp), we are assessing how far we've come in terms of Finance; Employee Engagement and Development; Internal Operational Processes; Teaching, Learning and Student Development; Research and Innovation; and Outreach.
Throughout 2015-2016, The University’s leadership has been engaged in the Strategic Planning process for the 2017-2022 period, around a 'Triple A' Vision for The UWI:
Our University faces severe financing challenges. Over the years, we have worked with our contributing governments, private sectors and donor partners to ensure that value for money is realized and that their investment in our teaching, research and outreach yields positive and measurable returns. We have also increased our capacity to leverage intellectual and infrastructure assets to financially supplement funding received. I wish to underscore here, our deep gratitude to our contributing governments and corporate partners for their ongoing support.
A significant part of increasing The UWI’s efficient use and allocation of resources, involves unifying and rationalizing our operations across all four campuses. In December 2015, The One UWI Task Force co-chaired by Dr. Wendy Grenade (Cave Hill), Professor Densil Williams (Mona), Dr. Joel Warrican (Open Campus), and Dr. Hamid Ghany (St. Augustine), was assembled to:
Foundation courses are a selection of first-year undergraduate orientation classes intended to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for graduates of The UWI and future Caribbean leaders. Four foundation courses were introduced in 1997 to give all undergraduate students a University-wide experience and underpinning for their studies. Today, all our undergraduate students must satisfy nine credits of foundation courses as part of their degree programme.
The UWI welcomed staff to new leadership positions, including recently appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the St. Augustine Campus, Professor Brian Copeland; the new Pro Vice-Chancellor of Planning, Professor Densil Williams, and Ambassador Richard Bernal, the new Pro Vice-Chancellor of Global Affairs, appointed to deepen The UWI’s regional engagement and expand our international reach.
As part of his first official visit to Jamaica as Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago in July 2016, The Honourable Dr Keith Rowley, engaged in a number of activities at his alma mater. His schedule included meetings with the Vice-Chancellor, a special address to The UWI’s executive management team, as well as Trinidad & Tobago students of UWI, Mona and a town hall meeting at The UWI Regional Headquarters. He also toured the Mona Campus and was inducted into "Prime Ministers' Park" in honour of UWI graduates who are or have been Heads of Government.
CONNECTING WITH CARIBBEAN LEADERS – The Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. the Hon. Keith Rowley, MP paid an official visit to The UWI, Mona Campus and addressed members of the University community at a town hall meeting held at the University’s Regional Headquarters.The UWI has established new paradigms for communicating with stakeholders. All major presentations, governance meetings and events are streamed live and made accessible to the media and general public, with supporting press conferences held immediately after the meetings to engage the media on issues of importance.
A key element of The UWI’s public outreach is UWItv, which began broadcasting in December 2016 and is still in its nascent stages (www.uwitv.org). UWItv is a new multimedia public information and education service offered through a tripartite partnership with The University of the West Indies, CaribVision (the regional cable service of the Caribbean Media Corporation) and the RJR Group in Jamaica. The hub of its operations is The University's Regional Headquarters in Jamaica; with supporting production teams spread across all four UWI campuses.
In August 2016, The UWI launched its first Global Giving Week (https://www.uwi.edu/giving/) with the theme ‘Emancipate. Educate. Donate.’ a fundraising initiative aimed at establishing an annual tradition of engagement with The UWI's vast network of alumni and corporate partners, in support of The University’s efforts toward regional development.
The Honourable Dr Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago reveals the Honour Roll as he is inducted into the Prime Ministers' Park which honours UWI graduates who are or have been heads of government.
