In January 2004 The University of the West Indies hosted its first International Symposium on Critical Thinking and inaugurated The Institute of Critical Thinking on the St. Augustine campus with a view to considering how Critical Thinking is related to Teaching and Learning.

The symposium was geared towards positively affecting the triad of how thinking, teaching and learning occur at UWI and the way they occur at all levels of the education systems in the region. The under-girding reason for this strategic intent is that the distinction between biologically inherited brains and minds that culturally created must be appreciated.  Against that background curriculum becomes a mind-altering device and this makes the learning process assume greater significance because that process can determine the limits or limitlessness of the mind.  Through education we can use our actual minds to create our possible worlds.