News Releases

Cultural Studies Society launched at UWI - Aims to bring Diverse Communities together

For Release Upon Receipt - June 10, 2019

St. Augustine


Cultural practitioners, academics, activists and policymakers now have a new forum to share ideas and concerns about the many sociopolitical issues that affect the everyday lives of citizens. The Cultural Studies Society (CSS) hosted its formal launch at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Film Department, Carmody Road in St. Augustine. The event, which took place on May 8, 2019, introduced its membership to the mandate and upcoming projects of the CSS, as well as its recently elected council.

The CSS provides opportunities for discussions on cultural studies issues. First proposed in 2017, the CSS has since captured the keen interest of current students, alumni of The UWI, cultural practitioners and other persons who wish to participate in community engagement about the role and focus of cultural studies.

Cultural studies is an innovative, interdisciplinary field of research, teaching and thought which investigates the ways in which “culture” creates and transforms individual experiences, everyday life, social relations and power. It is a growing field that combines the strengths of the social sciences, the humanities, history, anthropology and economics in order to address the questions and problems of an ever-changing world.  The field presents a fresh opportunity for Caribbean persons to enter into dialogue about their indigenous expressions, how we are positioned in the world, and our distinctive ways of life.

The launch featured greetings by each member of the recently elected council who oversee the areas of Events and Activities, Membership and External Relations, Financial Affairs and Fundraising, and, Communications and Publications. The gathering also heard words of welcome from the Head of Department, Dr Elizabeth Jackson and the Faculty Representative of the Society’s advisory committee, Dr Suzanne Burke, who reinforced the need for persons to get involved in the task of creating a sustainable dialogue on culture and societal change. 

Performing at the event were Darrion Narine, the outgoing President of The UWI’s Guild of Students, and Keon Francis, PhD Cultural Studies student. Both presented stirring spoken word pieces. The evening ended with a cocktail reception and an opportunity for those present to discuss the CSS’ upcoming projects.

Those interested in becoming a member of the CSS, or in joining their mailing list are asked to send an email to uwiculturalstudies.society@gmail.com. You can learn more about the CSS by visiting the CSS Facebook page.

                                                                               

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About The UWI

For the past 70 years The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has provided service and leadership to the Caribbean region and wider world. The UWI has evolved from a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948 to an internationally respected, regional university with near 50,000 students and four campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, and an Open Campus. As part of its robust globalization agenda, The UWI has established partnering centres with universities in North America, Asia, and Africa such as the State University of New York (SUNY)-UWI Centre for Leadership and Sustainable Development, the UWI-China Institute of Information Technology, the University of Lagos (UNILAG)-UWI Institute of African and Diaspora Studies and the Institute for Global African Affairs with the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. 

As the region’s premier research academy, The UWI’s foremost objective is driving the growth and development of the regional economy. Times Higher Education has ranked The UWI among the top 1,258 universities in world for 2019, and the 40 best universities in its Latin America Rankings for 2018, and was the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists.  For more, visit 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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