Institute of International Relations

I am honoured to serve as the 19th Director of the Institute of International Relations (IIR), a highly renowned programme housed at the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine campus, in Trinidad and Tobago. I am also privileged to serve as a research supervisor for students writing their theses in human rights, migration, and refugee-related topics, including those relevant to China.

 The IIR, founded in 1966, is the premier institute in the Caribbean dedicated to educating and training regional and international leaders, and future leaders enrolled in one of the Postgraduate diplomas, Master’s (M.Sc. and MPhil) or PhD programmes including those who enrolled in short-term modules offered by The Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean (DAOC). Established in 2014 and part of the IIR, the DAOC is the region’s premier academy for training persons and institutions interested in advanced research and knowledge on Caribbean international relations and affairs, protocol and diplomacy, and other important topics relevant to the region. In addition to learning from and working with our outstanding teaching faculty, scholars, researchers and professors of practice, and fellow classmates, the IIR provides opportunities for you to engage with other departments to apply multidisciplinary perspectives to regional and international research and career interests, whether in, but not limited to, Business, Economics, Law, Science & Technology, or other Social Sciences and humanities disciplines.

My strong belief in a student-centered institute ensures that our IIR team will do everything we can to help you achieve your goals, including developing practical skills essential to leadership.  I encourage you to take full advantage of all resources available to you at the IIR and within the wider University community. This includes, but is not limited to, participation in all extracurricular activities such as guest lectures delivered by local and international leaders, including the Heads of local diplomatic missions and prominent academic scholars. In addition, the IIR offers opportunities to participate in seminars, workshops, academic research, field trips, and community service initiatives.

I am excited about the opportunities that await you, the career path you will pursue, and how your time at the IIR will enrich your current occupation and professional endeavours. I am also delighted that you will join a vast IIR alumni network that is making an impact locally, regionally, and internationally.

I wish you a fulfilling and rewarding academic journey at the IIR, and I look forward to seeing how you will use the knowledge, skills, and abilities you’ve gained here to serve others and to address and solve pressing regional and global challenges.