SUNDAY 4 FEBRUARY, 2018 – UWI TODAY
3
EDITORIAL TEAM
CAMPUS PRINCIPAL
Professor Brian Copeland
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Dr Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill
EDITOR
Vaneisa Baksh • email:
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diseases are obesity, high cholesterol, coronary heart
diseases and stroke, diabetes and some forms of cancer.
In an environment where Trinidad and Tobago, like the
rest of the Caribbean, is under siege, ASPE is certainly a
timely initiative.
The St Augustine Campus has often raised the notion of
a revised national education system that is solely motivated
by the need for citizens to survive in three possible scenarios
– in catastrophic situations, such as in the aftermath of
societal breakdown consequent to manmade or natural
crises, in the “normal” state as defined primarily by the
world of work, and in a future state with effective strategies
for preparing the citizen of the future. This vision of an
education system for sustainable development has driven
the Campus’ contribution to curriculum and pedagogical
reinvention and reform.
A key element at the core of the knowledge and skills
of survival is the individual’s knowledge and understanding
of their body. This is well exemplified in the concept of
wellness and in the optimal use of citizens’ natural assets
– in other words, the building of “physical competence”
in a life-long “physical culture”. Think of it! Think of an
education system that, from a very early age, develops and
enhances our ability to walk, run, swim, jump, catch, kick,
bowl, bat, do all of these things with our body and more in
a manner that prolongs its utility while minimizing damage
due to improper technique. Complement that with a sound
knowledge of personal diet and exercise as well as mental
stimulation and growth and we have a nation that is primed
for long life, physically fit for times of physical hardship
and, for those so inclined, fully prepared to escalate their
physical competence to that of elite athlete.
Finally, this upgrade to an Academy will allow for a
much needed focus on teaching and learning of sustainable
sports facility development and maintenance as well as the
modernisation of existing sports facilities. This will align
the Academy with international trends and widen access
to quality tertiary level education in this much‐needed
area of sport.
Obstacles, like change, are inevitable and a fact of life.
However, in just seven decades, this regional University
has time and again risen to challenges and pushed past
perceived limits.
2018 has to be a year of change, of re-invention,
and of innovation. Even as the economic uncertainty
2018 will be a good year.
As
with any new beginning, we
have the chance to re-invent
ourselves and to seize those
opportunities that will present
themselves in this New Year.
2018 also marks the 70th
Anniversary ofThe University
of the West Indies and its
service and leadership in the
Caribbean Region. We, the
Staff, Faculty, Students, and
our network of more than
120,000Alumni, canbe justly proudof our accomplishments
to date. UWI graduates are represented at the highest
levels of the public and private sectors, and among all
the professions. From one century to the next, The UWI
has remained committed to advancing learning, creating
knowledge, and fostering innovation for a sustainable
Caribbean.
Some six months ago, The UWI launched a Faculty
of Sport which would oversee the development of a
Sport Academy on each of our four Campuses – Cave
Hill, Mona, Open, and St. Augustine. The St. Augustine
Campus is actively engaged in the process of establishing
its Academy, called the Academy of Sport and Physical
Education (ASPE).The rationale for ASPE continues on our
philosophy for national and regional sport programmes
as evidenced by our very well-known Sport and Physical
Education Centre (SPEC) over the years.
SPEC, a multifaceted academic sport and physical
education tertiary level unit, was designed to be at the
forefront of tertiary level sport development, sport
academics and physical education in the Caribbean.
Commissioned in 2003, it was then a different concept
and a first in Trinidad and Tobago where people were
more familiar with competitive stadia rather than a sport
facility functioning like any other teaching and learning
unit within a University.
After 14 years, it is time to reset the framework for the
continued development of Sport and Physical Education
in a scenario where sport, sport academics, and physical
education have even more relevance in our region.
The Academies of the Faculty of Sport are mandated
to offer all types of programmes that will build physical
literacy, primarily through physical education, for all
citizens. Physical literacy, for those who are not aware,
is defined as ‘the motivation, confidence, physical
competence, knowledge and understanding to value and
take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for
life’. (
).
ASPE’s focus and mission will be on providing all-
inclusive programmes that emphasize and promote physical
literacy and on preparing exceptional Sport and Physical
Education professionals for successful sport careers. It
will aim at inculcating a culture of personal responsibility
for physical literacy so that individuals freely choose to
be active on a regular basis. This involves prioritizing
and sustaining involvement in a range of meaningful and
personally challenging activities, as an integral part of
one’s lifestyle. The Academy’s place should always be at the
forefront of tertiary level Caribbean development in sport
and physical education.
The community engagement plan of the St. Augustine
Campusmakes it an imperative that it hears, reaches out and
assists national and CARICOM governments in urgently
addressing the current regional health crisis, characterized
by a steady and continuous rise in lifestyle diseases. This
crisis has a direct link to inactivity and unhealthy eating
habits. Since 2007, CARICOMgovernments have attempted
to address the epidemic of chronic non‐communicable
lifestyle diseases which account for more than half of the
incidences of death and disease in the region. The major
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
A Year of Change, Re-invention and Innovation
2018 has to be a year of change, of re-invention, and of innovation.
Even as the economic uncertainty continues, it is already shaping up to be an exciting year for
the St. Augustine Campus of The UWI. In treating with these uncertainties, Campus Management
continues to systematically engage with stakeholders, including the Government of the Republic
of Trinidad and Tobago which has always been very supportive of The UWI.
continues, it is already shaping up to be an exciting year
for the St. Augustine Campus of The UWI. In treating
with these uncertainties, Campus Management continues
to systematically engage with stakeholders, including
the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
which has always been very supportive of The UWI.
This engagement is also with staff, recognized Unions,
contractors and students through the Guild of Students.
In these conversations, the senior management team
continues to share the economic reality with a call to
be more efficient and innovative in operations. Campus
Management has shared some income generating and
cost-cutting measures including curbing non-essential and
travel expenditure, energy efficiency and leveraging digital
technology solutions.We have also invited suggestions from
the campus community and explained that the intention
at this time is not layoffs but rather to focus on efficiencies
and quality. Even as we take these measures, we plan to
continue to strengthen our consulting activities with local
and regional companies to improve their foreign exchange
earning potential and to grow commercial entities from
our R&D.
The current downturn is affecting higher education
institutions worldwide. In fact, international rating agency
Moody’s moved their rating of the global higher education
industry from stable to negative, while Standard & Poor’s
suggest a bleak outlook for higher education globally in
2018. Mindful of this disruption in higher education, we
understand that it is not business as usual. We will continue
to focus on innovating in all aspects of operations including
academic programme restructuring and delivery, even as we
put measures in place to treat with the economic downturn
that all local organizations are grappling with.
I look forward to the support and commitment of all,
on and off the Campus, as we collaboratively strive for true
sustainable development for this region.
PROFESSOR BRIAN COPELAND
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal
