Looking into the Future

Petition at CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Haiti

In February 2018, Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at their 29th Intersessional Meeting in Haiti, agreed to receive a presentation from The UWI focused on the regional institution's current financial challenges, particularly with respect to government receivables and the impact of impairments and write-offs on our consolidated balance sheet. The Heads of Government heads expressed their deep concern over the University's financial state and committed to engaging with The UWI to consider the proposals it presented.

A Cornerstone of Regional Development

The process of nation-building, the collapse of colonialism across the West Indies and the emergence of sustainable nations were all made possible by the investments made in The UWI. It has been the backbone of the regional integration movement through the gathering of the finest minds of the region; facilitating discussion within and across disciplines and across societies; and the movement of the intellectual community and administrators throughout the region.

The UWI has been involved in all areas of civic engagement: discussions about economic growth, social justice, cultural integrity, and harnessing the imagination of Caribbean youth. These conversations have all been part of its journey. The UWI is not only a distinguished regional university; it has acquired a global brand and is respected all over the world for the excellence of its students and staff.

Celebrating 70 Years of Service & Leadership

Since its inception in 1948, The UWI has been a pivotal force in every aspect of regional development and resides at the centre of all efforts to improve the well- being of Caribbean people. The commemoration of its 70th anniversary in 2018 is therefore focused on celebrating our long history of service and leadership to the region.

In this spirit, The UWI encourages the wide engagement of its students, faculty, administrators, alumni, governments, and partners in the public and private sector in its celebratory year of activities, which focus both on reflection on the past and projection for the future, with an emphasis on social justice and the economic transformation of the region.

70th Anniversary commemorative events

The calendar of events marking the 70th Anniversary of The UWI includes several conferences and symposia; festivals; inter-faith services; concerts, exhibitions and other creative and technical expositions; publications; charitable, awareness-raising and fundraising events, among others. They will take place across all campuses. A comprehensive list of 70th Anniversary events can be found at www.uwi.edu/70.

70th Anniversary Calendar App

Among the initiatives celebrating the occasion is the creation of a mobile app, designed and developed by a student of the Cave Hill Campus, Mr. Theo Taylor, under the supervision of Dr. Janak Sodha, in the Department of Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics. The app helps staff, students, alumni, retirees and friends of the University to keep up-to-date on anniversary events and activities spread across the Caribbean and diaspora throughout the year. The UWI's 70th Anniversary Calendar is available on Google Play for Android and the App Store for IOS devices.

Fundraising for Faculty of Sport

Through its 70th Anniversary Capital Campaign, The UWI will be inviting all alumni, students, staff, public and private sector partners, civil society, development partners and friends of The UWI, both in the region and globally, to join its efforts to mobilise ideas, projects and funding in support of The UWI Faculty of Sports. This flagship initiative will contribute to revitalising Caribbean development and will strengthen The UWI's capacity to deliver on the promise of increased access, agility and alignment.

Looking to the future

Even as it takes pride in its past, The UWI has made an earnest start in looking toward its future, starting with the 2017–2022 "Triple A" Strategic Plan. In embracing this plan, The UWI places greater emphasis on becoming more accessible to the people of the region and aligning more effectively with our stakeholders. It also recognises the need to become more agile in seeking out opportunities to expand and develop.In so doing, it strives to overcome the crippling economic crisis through the pursuit of the strategic plan which is subtitled “Revitalising Caribbean Development."

So while its platinum anniversary is a celebration of this magnificent institution and the regional collaboration that it represents, it must spark contemplation and conversation about the journey ahead toward an improved future.