News Releases

New UWI students charged to be solution finders to the world's challenges

For Release Upon Receipt - September 6, 2023

St. Augustine


Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, The UWI St. Augustine Campus addresses new students at UWI Life 2023

St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. September 6, 2023 - The University of the West Indies (The UWI) alumnus Jerome Precilla, more familiarly known as ‘Rome’, was the energetic host for students at the 2023 UWI Life initiative, a specially designed programme to introduce first-year students to Campus life. Staged by the St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI), this is the 24th cohort to participate in The UWI Life initiative which has as its theme, ‘discover your power, create your future’ for 2023 is part of a First Year Experience. Notably, amidst the spirited atmosphere and fun elements of the orientation, the programme conveyed the salient message that students should be solution-driven when confronting global challenges, a principle that resounded loud and clear with the participants.

Drawing from his own transformative journey at the St. Augustine campus, Rome passionately addressed the incoming cohort of students hailing from an impressive 15 different countries around the globe, urging them, to seize opportunities, embrace challenges, and make the most of every moment. This year’s intake includes students hailing from an astounding 16 countries from the far reaches of India, USA and Germany to the neighboring Caribbean isles like Belize, Guyana, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Jamaica, this diverse international community serves as a testament that for students with a world of educational options, The UWI remains their preferred choice.

Professor Rose-Marie Antoine, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, delivered a stirring address that amplified the importance of what a UWI education truly represents. "Your journey at UWI," she declared, "is more than a quest for knowledge and experience. It's an expedition that will equip you to architect the very essence of your lives." 

However, she urged them to do more and quoted Sir Arthur Lewis’ 1960 inspirational message: 

“We have to justify ourselves not just by-passing exams, which we could do anywhere, but rather by giving our minds to the problems of the country, and doing all we can to solve them – whether problems in science, or engineering, or politics, or aesthetics, or any other branch of knowledge.” 

Her impassioned words served as a clarion call for the students to strive not just for academic excellence, but for a higher purpose: to use their intellect, creativity, and character to contribute meaningful solutions to the challenges of our time. 

The 2023 UWI Life was supported by sponsors: Digicel, TTMF, Kiss Baking Company, Ansa McAl, Hadco, Group, Montano's Chocolates, Peardrax, Pizza Hut, Office Authority, Cedros Bay, First Citizens, Forward Industries, the Faculty of Food and Agriculture and The UWI Cocoa Research Centre. 

For more information on the FYE programme please visit https://sta.uwi.edu/fye/ 

END 

(From right) Ms. Kristy Mannette-Smith, Manager, Financial Advisory Services Department, Division of Student Services & Development, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus presents prizes to students

  UWI alumnus Jerome ‘Rome’ Precilla interacts with students at the 2023 UWI Life orientation event  

 Campus Registrar, The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Dr. Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill (third from right) congratulates student participants of UWI Life 2023 

 (From right) Professor Hariharan Seetharaman, Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences presents prizes to student participants of UWI Life 2023

 New students of The UWI St. Augustine Campus enjoy the presentations at the 2023 UWI Life orientation event

NOTES TO EDITOR 

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  

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