UWI Hosts UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology Validation Workshop
Stakeholders and committee members gather for a group photo at the UNESCO RAM Validation Workshop 2026 with Dr Letetia Addison, Lead Expert (centre), held at the Office of the Campus Principal on Friday, February 27, 2026.
A national roadmap for responsible artificial intelligence (AI) in Trinidad and Tobago is taking shape. The roadmap is aimed at using AI to accelerate development while reducing risk, with one shared direction for government, academia, industry and society. This was the basis of a National Validation Workshop hosted by UWI St Augustine at the Campus Principal’s Salon. The workshop, held on February 27, 2026, was a collaborative event with the Ministry of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Caribbean.
The workshop was facilitated by Dr Letetia Addison, UNESCO Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) Lead Expert for Trinidad and Tobago, who has been leading the national AI readiness assessment process and coordinating the multi-stakeholder consultations that informed the validation exercise.
Speaking at the workshop, UWI St Augustine Campus Principal said, “This collaboration not only strengthens national readiness but also positions Trinidad and Tobago as an early adopter and potential regional leader. As we engage in this process, we reaffirm our commitment to ethical and transparent AI strategies that will not only foster innovation but also ensure that our societal values are upheld.”
The workshop brought together over 50 stakeholders from across government, higher education, private sector, civil society, and international development agencies, marking an important transition from national consultation to structured alignment. The UNESCO RAM forms part of a broader national AI assessment initiative supported by UNESCO and The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aimed at generating evidence-based insights to strengthen Trinidad and Tobago’s AI policy and governance framework. Throughout the day, stakeholders discussed five dimensions of AI readiness: Legal and Regulatory, Technological and Infrastructural, Scientific and Educational, Societal and Cultural, and Economic.
This process was the final review to verify and refine findings emerging from a series of consultations convened in January 2026 under UNESCO RAM. The validation exercise ensures that the national AI roadmap accurately reflects the unique priorities, institutional landscape and developmental aspirations of Trinidad and Tobago.
“We seek a future in which technology serves people, not the other way around,” said Senator Dominic Smith, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, in his address to attendees.
“A future in which innovation flourishes without compromising rights, equity, or public trust. A future in which small states like ours are active architects of technological progress.”
In his address, Minister Smith affirmed the government’s commitment to building a responsible, inclusive and forward-looking digital society.
Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, UWI St Augustine Campus Principal, told those in attendance that the workshop “is a very important step in our development, embrace, and creative utilisation of AI, and I can think of no better place to hold it than the St Augustine campus.”
Professor Antoine said the campus has a long history of AI leadership and development through the AI unit in the Faculty of Engineering. “We have been, and continue to be, pioneers in this discipline.” Professor Antoine stated that the launch of the AI Innovation Centre (AIIC) in 2025, further institutionalised The UWI’s commitment to support policy, dialogue, innovation and capacity building in AI. The AIIC is the Caribbean’s largest AI centre dedicated to advancing AI research, capacity-building, commercialisation, policy and governance.
Other speakers included Mr Eric Falt, Regional Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean and Dr Addison, who noted that “AI readiness is a governance question, one that requires intentional coordination, inclusive dialogue, and institutional clarity.”
Several UWI academics also presented related research during a spotlight session and engaged with stakeholders in roundtable discussions and plenary exchanges aimed at strengthening national AI readiness.
The National AI Readiness Report is tentatively scheduled for official public launch in May 2026.
