During the 2024/2025 academic year, the Office of the University General Counsel (OUGC) played a pivotal role in supporting the University’s governance, risk management, and strategic initiatives. Through comprehensive legal advice, oversight of compliance and contractual matters, and engagement in policy development, the OUGC contributed to transparent and accountable institutional operations.

A key area of focus was enhancing access to education and research opportunities. The OUGC facilitated the negotiation, drafting, and execution of multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding with esteemed international and regional academic partners, including universities in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. These agreements supported student and staff exchanges, joint research, internships, and professional development initiatives, all aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Of particular note was the formalisation of an agreement with the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to increase access for CXC candidates to UWI’s undergraduate programmes and a cooperation agreement with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to support advanced skills certification.

The OUGC also provided legal support for various scholarship and grant initiatives, such as the Trevelyan Grenada Reparations Fund Scholarship, the Raquel Josephs Scholarship, and the Intra-Caribbean Academic Mobility Programme (ICAMP), a significant EU-funded project. These efforts aimed to expand equitable access to tertiary education, strengthen regional capacity, and foster applied research. Additional support was provided for research collaborations, including the CATCH Study, ensuring compliance with institutional and funding requirements.

Institutional alignment was another priority, highlighted by the Indigenisation Project, which seeks to transition The UWI’s governance from Royal Charter to a regional treaty-based framework within CARICOM. The OUGC led foundational legal work, policy consultations, and stakeholder engagement to advance this significant transformation. The Office also supported the operationalisation of new entities, such as the International School for Development Justice Inc. (ISDJ), and strengthened governance across UWI subsidiaries by overseeing statutory filings, certification processes, and compliance with corporate governance standards.

The OUGC managed a diverse portfolio of claims and disputes during the reporting period, including seven Visitor Petitions from staff and students. These cases addressed issues ranging from professorial appointments and employment matters to academic appeals and student governance. In each instance, the OUGC ensured that the University’s decisions were legally defensible and procedurally sound.

Agility remained central to the OUGC’s mandate, as evidenced by its contributions to the University’s digital transformation, ICT infrastructure upgrades, and cybersecurity initiatives. The Office played a key role in securing strategic financing, such as the IDB Invest loan for ISDJ, and in supporting externally funded projects with agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme and the Inter-American Development Bank. These projects advanced research, policy development, and regional resilience efforts.

Throughout the year, the OUGC organised staff development workshops and compliance information sessions, further supporting institutional welfare and regulatory adherence. Overall, the Office demonstrated sustained capacity to manage complex legal and governance matters, thereby underpinning the University’s mission and strategic objectives.