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UWI Research Leads the Group

For Release Upon Receipt - August 24, 2022

UWI


The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Wednesday, August 24, 2022—Last month, the world’s most reputable higher education agency Times Higher Education (THE) announced its 2022 Latin America University Rankings. Marking its third consecutive year in the hemispheric rankings, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) succeeded in sustaining a leading position among the region’s best, and significantly scored 100% in the citations (research influence) performance indicator used by the prestigious ranking agency. 

The UWI’s 100% score in citations/research influence is above even the number one ranked University in Latin America; a feat it also achieved in the 2021 Latin America University Rankings. This performance indicator is one of five areas assessed by Times Higher Education. It looks at a university’s role in spreading new knowledge and ideas. The research influence score captures the average number of times a university’s published work is cited by scholars globally. THE’s other performance indicators include teaching (the learning environment); research (volume, income and reputation); international outlook (staff, students and research); and industry income (knowledge transfer). 

Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, commenting on the report stated, “These excellent results are the outcomes of the sustained, smart work of our academics and administrators, students and service providers.” 

Also weighing in on the accomplishment, The UWI’s new Pro Vice-Chancellor, Board for Graduate Studies and Research, Professor Aldrie Henry-Lee congratulated the University’s outstanding researchers and their support staff. She noted, “The UWI's research continues to significantly impact not only academia but the policy processes in developing countries.” 

The UWI’s high ranking and high demand for its research is a key advantage that the University aims to leverage in its 2022-2027 strategic cycle. The strategic plan, dubbed The Revenue Revolution, is focused on converting the University’s well-earned and honed international reputation into much-needed revenue, as well as enhancing the quality, quantity and impact of research to develop revenue generating industry-academic partnerships. 

Since its 2018 debut in the Latin America University Rankings, The UWI is still the sole university from the English-speaking Caribbean among all the institutions ranked by Times Higher Education’s Latin America University Rankings.  Its consolidated results in the rankings’ five performance areas have overall remained consistent since last year, although the 2022 edition saw an increased number of new entrants. The UWI is ranked at position 21 in the 2022 Latin America University Rankings, which comprise 197 institutions in 13 countries, up from 177 institutions in 2021.

The complete 2022 Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings can be accessed here. 

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 25 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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