UWI Council re-examines University’s role in regional development

At the annual business meeting of the University Council held on May 6, 2011 at the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Secretariat in Basseterre, St Kitts, with participation of Ministers of Education, government officials, academics and members of the private sector, The UWI’s supreme governing body undertook a comprehensive examination of its role and mandate as a catalyst for development in the English-speaking Caribbean region. It was acknowledged that the climate within which the University operates had changed drastically since the formation of the institution in 1948. Its regional remit and its role in strengthening the integration process had become even more critical now as governments continued to examine their commitment to regional integration. It was therefore felt that The UWI was challenged to help to “perfect the union”.

Two separate Working Groups convened by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nigel Harris, to address two related issues of concern, namely, the apparent weakening of the regional character of The University of the West Indies and the decline in enrolment at The UWI of students from the OECS countries, submitted their reports to Council. The conclusions reached and the recommendations made by these Working Groups occasioned a lively discussion and the Council, having heard the reports from the four campuses, concluded that The UWI continued to make a significant impact on the development of the region, and the investment in higher education embodied in The UWI was critical for the region to be competitive in the global environment. The Council reaffirmed its commitment to the regional enterprise and underscored the need for the ongoing support of the institution by the contributing countries. It proposed to address immediately some of the recommendations made to enhance and further strengthen the regional character of the University, such as emphasising the use of more Caribbean material in its academic courses and increasing movement of staff and students between the campuses. It was further agreed that reviews of the governance of the institution would continue to be undertaken in 10-yearly intervals.

The Council also approved the re-appointment of several senior managers as well as Tution fees for the Academic year 2011-2012. Deputy Principals Professor Eudine Barriteau (Cave Hill Campus) and Professor Rhoda Reddock (St. Augustine Campus) were re-appointed for a second three-year term of office, effective August 1, 2011. Professor Wayne Hunte who was first appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research, in 2005 was reappointed for a further three-year term, effective August 1, 2011 while Professor Ronald Young was re-appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Graduate Studies, for one more year, effective August 1, 2011 as he is due to retire at the end of the next academic year, in July 2012. Finally, Ms Cecile Clayton was re-appointed Deputy University Registrar for a further three-year term, effective August 1, 2011.

Recommendations for tuition fees for academic year 2011/2012 were endorsed and recorded an across-the-board increase of 9% (including the Faculty of Medical Sciences) over the current academic year at the Mona Campus. This level of increase is below the inflation rate in Jamaica, reported to be at 10% in January 2011 and represents a recovery of 19.7% of economic costs.

At the Cave Hill Campus in Barbados tuition fees for the Faculties of Humanities and Education, Pure and Applied Sciences and the Social Sciences have been increased by 2.3% over the levels for the current academic year, while the fees for the ‘Professional’ Faculties of Law and of Medicine remained unchanged. These levels of tuition fees represent a recovery of economic costs at Cave Hill of 18.2 percent. At the St Augustine Campus in Trinidad, tuition fees remained unchanged for the incoming academic year due to significant increases in enrolment. These fees represent 19.2% recovery of economic costs. The schedule of fees for undergraduate, pre-University and postgraduate programmes at the Open Campus also remained unchanged. The tuition fees recommended for self-financed programmes on all four campuses were also endorsed by Council.

As a result of the these decisions students entering the Faculties of the Humanities & Education, the Social Sciences, the Pure & Applied Sciences and the Department of Advanced Nursing at Mona will pay a flat fee of J$227,024 in academic year 2011/2012 (compared to J$208,361 this year). Students entering the Faculty of Law will pay J$247,049 (compared with J$226,740), while for the Faculty of Medical Sciences the merged fee of J$546,397 is applicable for 2011/2012 compared to J$501,479 in academic year 2010/2011.

Read the Vice Chancellor's Report to Council.