News Releases

The UWI’s Faculties of Medical Sciences accredited by CAAM-HP for another 5 years

For Release Upon Receipt - August 11, 2023

UWI


The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. Friday, August 11, 2023—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is pleased to announce that its Faculties of Medical Sciences have been successfully accredited for an additional five-year period, from 2023 to 2028 by the region’s accreditation body, The Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP).

The decision to renew the accreditation was reached at CAAM-HP’s meeting held on July 19 and 20, 2023 following a comprehensive review and evaluation conducted by the Authority during 2022 visits to the three teaching sites at Mona, St Augustine, Cave Hill and the clinical site in The Bahamas.

The CAAM-HP accreditation reaffirms the high quality and standards upheld by The UWI Faculties of Medical Sciences in medical education and healthcare training. This recognition underscores the commitment of The UWI to consistently provide a world-class education to medical students as well as students studying other health professions.

The rigorous evaluation process undertaken by the CAAM-HP encompassed a thorough assessment of various aspects of the Faculties of Medical Sciences, including curriculum content, faculty expertise, clinical training facilities, research initiatives, and overall adherence to global best practices in medical education. The accreditation is a testament to the dedication and hard work of The UWI community in ensuring that students receive the highest calibre of education and training.

News of this five-year reaccreditation comes as the Caribbean region’s only world-ranked University celebrates its 75th anniversary, birthed initially with 33 medical students. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, expressed his enthusiasm over the accreditation, stating, "We are very proud of this accomplishment, which reflects the unwavering commitment of our faculties, staff, and students to the pursuit of excellence in medical education. This reaccreditation not only highlights our dedication to producing skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals who will make meaningful contributions to the well-being of our communities, it also solidifies the UWI's standing as a leading institution in medical education within the Caribbean region and beyond." 

Vice-Chancellor Beckles, who often describes the past three years as demonstrative of “The UWI’s finest hour in service to the region”, spotlighted the contributions of the University’s medical faculties to the regional COVID-19 response. He also underscored the impact as an internationally recognised research university, through the academic and research output of indigenous entities like its George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre and Caribbean Institute for Health Research.

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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 Global 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   

About (CAAM-HP)

The Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) was established in 2003 under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to ensure that the education programmes of medicine and other health professions offered by institutions in participating countries are recognised nationally and regionally to be of international standard.

Medical education in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) began with thirty-three (33) students in 1948 at the foundation of the University College of the West Indies (UCWI), at the Mona Campus in Jamaica as a constituent part of the University of London.  In 1962 the UCWI sought independence from London becoming The University of the West Indies (UWI). From its inception until 2001 when the practice of accrediting overseas institutions was discontinued in keeping with European Union (EU) regulations regarding academic and professional training programmes, the medical education programme of The UWI was accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC) of the UK. This gave national, regional and international recognition to UWI graduates who were able to register freely in the UK and other Commonwealth countries.  This practice continued over the years even as various changes took place in medical education at The University of the West Indies (UWI).

Other medical schools were established at the University of Suriname in 1969 and at the University of Guyana in 1985.

From the mid-1970s onwards the region has witnessed an influx of ‘offshore’ medical schools with an almost exclusively international student population mainly from the US and Canada. 

In response to these developments and the regional thrust to ensure quality education and training in the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), a regional accreditation system was established as a means of providing the assurance of quality that generates confidence in the stakeholders.  Thus, the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) was launched under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in July 2004 to accredit the education programmes of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, nursing and other health professions in CARICOM member states.

CARICOM Member States are: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad& Tobago, British Virgin Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands.

Source: The Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions website: https://caam-hp.org/overview/ 

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