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Another global gold award for The UWI

For Release Upon Receipt - February 4, 2022

UWI


The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. Friday, February 4, 2022—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has won another gold international award for its branding and marketing. 

“Positioning the University’s reputation and brand strategy in the international digital space is a significant achievement that speaks to its effectiveness,” said Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, in reaction to the announcement of this latest global accolade for the University’s recent redesign of its central website www.uwi.edu.

It was earned in the 15th Annual AVA Digital Awards, administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). The UWI brand is named on the 2022 winners list —among global brand heavyweights the likes of Virgin, Dell, DHL, AT&T, BET Network, and Al Jazeera Media Network to name a few. 

This international award for excellence in digital creativity, branding and strategy comes as a high point that cements the Caribbean’s top-ranked University’s progress in nurturing a single, global brand consciousness—the very essence of Phase 1 of its Triple A Strategic Plan, covering the period 2017-2022. The redesign of The UWI website was part of a system-wide initiative to align the University's digital communication assets with that of a modern global academy. 

According to Vice-Chancellor Beckles, “The UWI has remained focused on its core business and has shown considerable resilience and commitment to its principles and purpose. This is how fine universities thrive; refusing to be distracted in the dedication to duty.” 

Extending commendations to the University Director, Marketing and Communications, Dr Rhonda Jaipaul-O’Garro, the University Chief Information Officer, Mrs Brigitte Collins and their combined teams, Vice-Chancellor Beckles continued, “We celebrate this further global recognition of our excellence in the face of stiff competition and the effective migration of the Triple A Strategic Plan into the global digital marketing space. Managing and leading in the global arena require the effective mobilization of digital tools and technologies. The UWI has risen to the challenge and has won, once again, gold star acclamation from its peers.” 

He noted that “competing among major global conglomerates such as Dell, AT&T, Virgin, and BET illustrates the distance The UWI has travelled and grown in recent years. It also reflects its status as a top tier international university. It has illustrated once again its capacity to effectively enter the global space and to represent the region with dignity and determination. By remaining focused, courageous, committed and confident, The UWI has entered 2022 with the winning mindset necessary to grow and prosper.” 

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Notes to the Editor 

About the AVA Awards

The annual AVA Digital Awards, administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP) is an international competition that recognizes excellence by creative professionals responsible for the planning, concept, direction, design, and production of digital communication. Work ranges from digital campaigns – to audio and video production – to website development – to social media engagement – to mobile marketing. 

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region. 

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. 

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

For more, visit www.uwi.edu.

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