News Releases

 Prime Minister Browne stated that his government pledged to The UWI to provide funding for the expansion of the facilities and to create a modern, state-of-the-art campus at Five Islands. With the funding agreement, he said, the government has honoured its pledge.

 Acting CEO of the SFD, Mr. Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad stated in an address to the campus gathering, that it was his country’s honour to assist the government with the necessary capital to expand higher education capacity for the nation and region, and that The UWI was a most deserving institution.

 An overjoyed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Five Islands, Professor Densil A. Williams, who led the design of the master plan for the campus and assisted the government with the project proposal, presented the scope of work that will soon begin. Capital works will include teaching and research facilities, libraries, student dormitories, sports and recreation spaces, virtual technology and infrastructure as well as administration. Vice-Chancellor Beckles noted, “Principal Williams has led brilliantly the development of the campus in the last three years”.

 The Vice-Chancellor concluded his remarks by saying that the campus is a critical part of the University’s 21^st-century access strategy, and it will spearhead new and innovative agendas within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, regionally and globally. He commended Prime Minister Browne for his vision, fortitude, and commitment to The UWI’s strategies to serve the people of the Caribbean.

 End.

 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 for the past 75 years.

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 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). 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 in the World University Rankings, 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.

2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu