News Releases

The UWI Council hears Proposal for Campus in Antigua and Barbuda

For Release Upon Receipt - November 9, 2017

UWI


At a special session held in Jamaica on October 30, 2017, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Council, chaired by Chancellor, Robert Bermudez, met to receive a submission from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda proposing the establishment of the University’s fourth landed campus.

The Council heard from the Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who indicated that ongoing conversations with the government had reached maturity and that a proposal was ready. The Vice-Chancellor traced the 70-year old history of The UWI from its single faculty, single campus status in 1948 to a tri-campus university with the addition of St Augustine and Cave Hill campuses in Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados respectively, in the 1960s. The Open Campus was established ten years ago in the last significant restructuring.

Reference was made by the Vice-Chancellor to the growing perception in the Eastern Caribbean that The UWI could do more to promote development by facilitating the creation of a University community of skilled professionals, academics, research professors, and innovators.

Deputy Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Honourable Steadroy Benjamin presented his country’s case, arguing that only a campus producing a diversity of human resources at a much higher level could attract the investment capital necessary to drive economic growth above the current two to three percent growth per year. Reference was also made to the phenomenal impact that the Cave Hill Campus has had on the transformation of Barbados over the past fifty years. “Antigua and Barbuda’s time has come,” the Minister stated.

The government’s presentation was applauded by the University Council, and received unanimous support. The Council acknowledged the need to examine the proposal made by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and authorised the Vice-Chancellor to establish a Technical Task Force comprising University officials, students and other stakeholders to conduct a feasibility study—examine and evaluate the financial, operational and strategic viability and the sustainability of the establishment of the new campus. The Council also delegated responsibility to the University’s Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC) to determine the terms of reference and membership of the Technical Task Force, provide oversight, management and monitoring of its work and prepare a submission of its findings to the next regular meeting of the Council, scheduled for April 2018.

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About The University Council

The Council of The University of the West Indies consists of the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, the Pro Vice-Chancellors, Chairs of Campus Councils, Campus Principals, University Registrar, University Bursar, University Librarian, Treasurer, Chair of the Committee of Deans, Academic Board representative, Graduate elected by The UWI Alumni Association, appointed member of Government from each contributing country, Chancellor’s nominees—persons of high international, regional or national standing from the professions, commerce, industry, public service, labour movement and other non-governmental organisations, Tertiary Level Institution representative, Non-campus country representative, Senior Administrative/Professional staff representative, Administrative, Technical and Service staff representative and Student Guild representative.

About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, The UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. The UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. Website: www.uwi.edu

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

 

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