The University Office of Planning (UOP) remains the strategic engine of The UWI, pivotal in advancing the university’s Triple A Strategic Plan – Access, Alignment, and Agility. The office’s key achievements, strategic initiatives, and operational improvements in the reporting year all supported UWI’s goals of regional relevance, global competitiveness, and financial sustainability.

Staffing and Human Resources

The UOP’s professional and administrative staff saw notable changes this year, including the permanent appointment of Ms Saveitra Perry as Administrative Secretary and the promotion of Ms Lystra Downes to Office Attendant. The retirement of Mr Anand Dass, Senior Planning Officer, after three decades of service marked the end of an era, as his expertise and dedication greatly benefited the university.

Portfolio Structure and Major Functions

The UOP’s work is organised into four units: Strategic Planning, Business Intelligence/Institutional Research, Economic Engagement/Industry Partnerships, and Business Process Reengineering & Project Management. These units cover a broad array of responsibilities:

• Survey design and implementation
• Policy research and proposal development
• Strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation
• ICT systems and analytical tool development
• Special projects and operational efficiency initiatives
• Participation in university rankings

ACCESS

To expand educational opportunities to underserved communities, UOP:

• Developed concept papers and university reports supporting increased access
• Compiled student statistics (2019/2020–2023/2024) and datasets for the Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Report
• Conducted and analysed the UWI Student Satisfaction Survey 2025 and Staff Engagement Survey 2025, presenting findings to key university bodies
• Produced reports on the Times Higher Education World University and Impact Rankings
• Designed key survey instruments for institutional decision-making

ALIGNMENT

Enhancing collaboration with industry and applying research to real-world problems, UOP:

• Presented findings from the audit of UWI’s entrepreneurial culture to campus management
• Continued publishing the “Trends in Higher Education” bulletin, providing data-driven insights for university stakeholders (three issues released this year)

October 2024 Executive Management Retreat

AGILITY

To increase responsiveness and operational flexibility, UOP:

• Led quarterly reviews of the Triple A Strategy 2022- 2027 (Phase II: Revenue Revolution)
• Delivered virtual training on the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) system for monitoring strategic plans
• Developed concept papers—including a prototype Competitor Analysis Database and a web-enabled tracking system for cost-saving and revenue initiatives (“10 in 2” model)
• Partnered with the Department of Computing and Information Technology to develop a Tuition Projection Model and Business Intelligence Dashboard, enhancing student retention efforts and institutional planning

Routine and Operational Activities

UOP maintained its critical operational support role, coordinating data submissions for international university rankings, chairing interview panels, and preparing web analytics reports. UWI’s participation in the Times Higher Education World University and Impact Rankings was supported by UOP’s data collection and aggregation efforts.

Executive Management Retreat

A management retreat in October 2024 reviewed the university’s progress on the Triple A Strategic Plan. Key challenges identified included shortfalls in publications, operating margin, student satisfaction, administrative services, and employee engagement. The retreat produced actionable recommendations: stronger accountability on KPIs, formation of cross-functional teams, improved marketing and staff engagement strategies, and more frequent updates on revenue projects.

Conclusion

The UOP’s work in 2024/2025 underscored its strategic importance to The UWI. By driving evidence- based planning, supporting institutional reforms, and collaborating across university units, the office has laid a strong foundation for ongoing innovation, operational efficiency, and academic excellence.