Mona Campus

Expansion of Access to Tertiary Education

UWI Mona accelerated its mission by enhancing teaching and learning and prioritising student financial support to overcome social challenges. When bursaries for key programmes ended, the Office of Student Financing attracted eight new scholarship donors, including the Jossette Lewis Smikle and William McConnell Nursing Scholarships. For 2024/2025, OSF awarded approximately J$299 million in scholarships.

More than J$160 million was invested in upgrades to student housing and Wi-Fi. The Mona Infrastructure Restoration Fund (MIRF) was established to drive further infrastructure renewal.

The UWI STAR initiative expanded flexible, market- oriented short courses and professional programmes, tailoring offerings closely to workforce needs and student aspirations.

Alignment Between Industry and Academia for Wealth Creation

UWI Mona forged deeper partnerships with industry and government to catalyse economic growth. The new Fiscal Research Centre (FRC)—created with the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Finance Ministry, the IDB, and the University of Ottawa—secured J$200 million (Government) and US$400,000 (IDB) to produce policy-shaping research for Jamaica and the Caribbean.

The crXstal laboratory supported the Caribbean Crystallography School (CCS), establishing it as a regional hub for X-ray science, which involves analysing the internal structure of materials using X-rays. CCS supported research and industry in mining, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.

UWI Mona launched the Precision Cybersecurity Lab with a US$75,000 investment. The lab bolstered Jamaica’s digital security by combating online threats, such as hacking and data breaches, and by training students to identify and counter cyberattacks in the region.

UWI Mona joined the BIGEE project, a five-year initiative supporting technology development and entrepreneurship, backed by the Development Bank of Jamaica, the IDB, and the EU.

UWI Mona chaired the 20th International Conference on Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology (DESRIST). Over 100 participants attended. The programme focused on design science research and AI’s applications in industry, promoting collaboration between academia and business.

Agility to Utilise National, Regional, and Global Opportunities

To drive long-term transformation, the Campus spearheaded initiatives at national and international levels. The Department of Chemistry joined JMEA as an Associate Member to strengthen ties with the manufacturing and exporting sectors, expand knowledge, and stimulate industrial innovation.

UWI Mona and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) co- hosted a Regional Stakeholder Meeting. Ministries, higher education institutions, quality assurance agencies, and industry partners attended to advance frameworks for micro-credentials—short courses or certifications focused on specific skills, usually delivered online or in a blended format, designed to quickly address skills gaps—and credit transfer, allowing academic credits to be recognised and accepted between different Caribbean institutions. Stakeholders highlighted micro-credentials as flexible, competency-based pathways aligned with labour- market needs. They recommended forming a CARICOM Technical Working Group to update the Qualifications Framework, which sets out the official levels and standards for educational achievement in the region.

Participants in the COL Regional Stakeholder Meeting

The UWI/VM Distinguished Lecture Series advanced dialogue on digital transformation, research innovation, and social justice. Notable events included:

• Keynote by Professor Bharat Anand (Harvard University): Addressed residential and online teaching in the digital economy and hybrid classroom strategies.
• Faculty Forum: Facilitated discussions on pedagogical innovation.
• Breakfast with CEOs: Addressed digital transformation and leadership in a rapidly changing economy.
• The 5th Mixed Methods Caribbean Regional Conference: Addressed research and collaboration between academia, industry, and policy.
• Malcolm-X Centennial Lecture: Commemorated Malcolm-X’s legacy, with Reverend Kobi Little as speaker.

Conclusion

In 2024/2025, UWI Mona empowered people, upgraded infrastructure, and forged partnerships to build sustainable futures, bolstering its ability to confront social challenges and drive national and regional development. These achievements underscored UWI Mona’s commitment to excellence, justice, and progress.