In 2021 UWItv celebrated its 5th anniversary as it reaffirmed its commitment and dedication to the region and beyond. UWItv continues to deliver public information, services, education, and training programmes reflective of the roles and responsibilities of The UWI as the premier intellectual engine of the region. UWItv remains focused on its primary objective to present critical analyses of the common issues, concerns and socio-economic priorities in our region and the wider Caribbean diaspora.
From August 1, 2020, to July 31, 2021, UWItv continued to focus on a series of activities that are strategically in sync with The UWI Triple A strategy.
A key pillar of this Triple A strategy is Access, which aims “to increase participation in tertiary and higher education for all with the capacity and desire to learn”. UWItv continues to provide access to higher education through its multi-media platforms, which allow a multiplicity of audiences.
With the advancement and proliferation of digital technologies, visibility and image management is vital to The UWI. UWItv provides a platform from which The UWI has expanded its visibility and managed its image. Moreover, as an educational institution, The UWI is now better placed to deliver quality Caribbean-centred educational content uninterrupted throughout the region.
The ground-breaking industry and academic partnership with FLOW enabled UWItv to continue to provide access through its cable television platform across 15 regional territories, including Grenada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Anguilla, The Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, Turks and Caicos Islands, Dominica, British Virgin Islands, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda and Curacao. This academia/industry partnership enables UWItv’s mandate of integration through education, where classrooms and living rooms can now converge.
UWItv CATV channel's reach is evident as FLOW statics, conducted in the second quarter of 2020, estimated that the channel had a minimum of approximately 184,000 monthly unique viewers, with the top three viewership popularity in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados.
Access to credible and reliable information was particularly critical within the context of the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. The UWI has been at the forefront of the fight against the virus and bringing awareness of the COVID-19 vaccination to the region. UWItv continued to work in tandem with the UWI COVID-19 Taskforce and other regional entities such as PAHO, CARPHA and CARICOM to disseminate COVID-19 information.
UWItv also provided regional access during the seismic activity at the La Soufrière eruption in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. UWItv worked closely with the UWI Seismic Research Centre, the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and CARICOM to provide up to date information to the region and wider diaspora. The provision of this information came in the form of live press conferences, social media alerts and direct broadcasts to the UWItv channels.
UWItv continues to provide greater access through its social media platforms, mainly the UWItv Facebook page. The Facebook page has a considerable following and is strategically utilised to enhance visibility and access to the Facebook pages of the campus community.
Similarly, UWItv’s www.uwitv.org website provides an additional and more comprehensive platform that enhances the regional and extra-regional access to UWI-generated content. The website facilitates the placement of live-streamed videos, recorded videos, public lectures, conferences, symposiums, faculty interviews and other pertinent events.
With the continued challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, access to informative and reliable information has become even more critical. UWItv employed numerous digital solutions to enable the continued delivery of information to the region and beyond. In addition, UWItv extended the use of these digital solutions to enable stakeholders access to ongoing regional engagement. These E-engagements have been particularly effective at providing access by including multiple languages to fully encompass the needs of the diverse Caribbean and its diaspora.
An additional foundational pillar for the Triple A Strategy is Alignment, which refers to “building relevant and value-added relationships with alumni and the producers of wealth and promoting government and non-government sectors and international partners by ensuring that The UWI offerings are fulfilling the needs of the society it serves”.
UWItv’s strategic methodologies are well aligned with developing relationships with UWI alumni and producers of wealth by providing a multi-media platform to share their research, publications, public service messages, and perspectives with global audiences. Additionally, UWItv serves the needs of government, non-governmental and international actors through numerous strategic partnership arrangements.
The third and equally important pillar of the Triple-A strategy is Agility. This strategic goal refers to “utilising resources (human and physical) and capabilities to respond to the needs of customers, including alumni, in a changing environment, creating an entrepreneurial university with a diversified revenue base, improving the global presence of the University, ensuring economic sustainability through global expansion, operational efficiencies and financial profitability”.
UWItv continues to incorporate an entrepreneurial approach to its operations by delivering broadcast and live stream services on behalf of numerous stakeholders. These collaborations have advanced knowledge and awareness globally of the Caribbean region and have further enhanced the global footprint of The UWI. In addition, the UWItv partnerships are invaluable as The UWI can market its brand and highlight its institutional scholarship.
University Marketing & Communications Office
The University of the West Indies
868 662-2002 ext 84246 or 82316
universitymktgcomms@sta.uwi.edu
