News Releases

The UWI’s online ‘Global Giving’ campaign kicks off on August 1

For Release Upon Receipt - July 31, 2019

UWI


Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. Wednesday, July 31, 2019—Through its annual Global Giving programme, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) aims to connect with alumni, parents, friends, well-wishers and partners, inviting them to give contributions online to strengthen and sustain the regional university. The 2019 campaign kicks off on August 1 and parallels a larger capital campaign which will culminate with The UWI’s 75th Anniversary celebrations in 2023.

During his annual report presentation to the University Council earlier this year, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, declared that the reputation of the regional institution has never been higher. The UWI has had a sustained legacy of prestigious service and leadership over the past 71 years, and in the last couple years, experienced a pronounced increase in global recognition. From establishing global centres, historic partnerships with other universities and regional and international agencies, to being top-ranked by Times Higher Education and leading research and agendas with worldwide impact, The UWI is a global brand associated with excellence. 

“Maintaining excellent facilities, equipment, programmes, research and student support comes at a high cost”, says Minna Israel, Special Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor on Resource Development. “While The UWI Giving Week is staged annually from August 1-7, we have responded to requests from our alumni and friends and extended the period for online giving in particular. This year it will commence August 1 and run until December 31, 2019, under the theme: Emancipate…Educate…Donate, focused on fundraising for research, infrastructure and supporting students who are financially challenged.”

The Global Giving programme which was launched in 2016, is endorsed by several influential regional patrons including: the Right Honourable Owen Arthur, former Prime Minister of Barbados; His Excellency, Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, former President of Trinidad and Tobago; Her Excellency, Dame Dr Pearlette Louisy, former Governor-General of Saint Lucia; the Most Honourable P. J. Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica; Her Excellency, Ms A. Missouri Sherman-Peter, Ambassador, Permanent Observer for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); His Excellency Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton, the Governor–General of St Kitts & Nevis; His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda; and His Excellency, Sir Colville Young, Governor General of Belize.

Persons interested in giving to The UWI are invited to visit www.uwi.edu/giving or contact Ms Minna Israel at minna.israel@uwimona.edu.jm.

-End-

About The UWI Giving Week

The annual UWI Global Giving Week initiative is intended to be a frontline programme in a campaign aimed at developing the culture of philanthropy toward regional development. A series of campus specific launch events have successfully set the stage for the August 01-07 Giving Week, engaging and introducing community members, alumni, friends of The UWI, donor organisations and private sector organisations to the Emancipate, Educate and Donate theme for the programme which coincides with region-wide activities marking Emancipation. Proceeds of The UWI Global Giving Week programme will go toward funding students, research, facilities and equipment, construction and maintenance of residence halls as well as faculty and sport programmes across the institution.  For more information on the annual UWI Global Giving Week visit www.uwi.edu/giving .

About The UWI

For over 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, Latin America, Asia, and Africa including the State University of New York (SUNY)-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development; the Canada-Caribbean Studies Institute with Brock University; the Strategic Alliance for Hemispheric Development with Universidad de los Andes (UNIANDES); 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 & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science & 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 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. The UWI 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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