News Releases

Shaping the Future of Education: UWI/Guardian Life Lecture, Problem-Solving in Tomorrow's Leaders

For Release Upon Receipt - October 20, 2023

St. Augustine


 

 [L-R] Mr. Gregg Mannette Head of Sales at Guardian Life of the Caribbean Limited, Dean and Distinguished Professor Pedro Antonio Noguera from the USC Rossier School of Education and University of Southern California, Feature Speaker shakes hands with Dr the Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly Minister of Education joined by Deputy Principal of The UWI St Augustine Campus Professor Indar Ramnarine at the Guardian Life Premium Open Lecture 2023.

 

ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. October 20, 2023 – “Education is the key to our future... That means that our youth need an education that provides them with the problem-solving ability, resourcefulness, creativity, and critical thinking to confront these problems.” This was the perspective shared by Distinguished Professor Pedro Antonio Noguera, guest speaker, who delivered an informative and inspiring lecture on the evolving educational landscape in the wake of the global pandemic.  Professor Noguera was addressing the audience as The University of the West (The UWI) St. Augustine Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), in collaboration with Guardian Life of the Caribbean, hosted the 2023 UWI/Guardian Life Premium Open Lecture on Friday, September 29th at Daaga Auditorium, The UWI St. Augustine Campus.

 The Deputy Campus Principal Professor Indar Ramnarine led the discourse by highlighting the numerous challenges posed by the transition to remote teaching, including the isolation and marginalization of students without access to technology and the emergence of mental health issues. He explained how the University responded with technology training, counselling, and psychological support and by addressing the digital divide by providing devices.

 With a background in sociology, Professor Noguera's research explored extensively the influence of social and economic conditions, as well as demographic trends, on the educational system at local, regional, and global levels. He also noted, “When we looked at the students who were not thriving in our schools, we always saw that basic needs were not being met. To redefine success, we needed a strategy for addressing those needs. If we wanted to see more young people enter adulthood equipped with the skills to support themselves, their families, and contribute to their communities and societies, they needed a different kind of education.”

 In that regard, Professor Noguera strongly believes that universities must be the engines of innovation and creativity and highlighted the need for transformative education by asking, "What’s keeping our schools from being places that offer our students the ability to imagine new possibilities?" He proposed various educational concepts such as:

•         A Beryl McBurnie School of the Arts in Woodbrook that builds on the culture, captures the imagination of young people and inspires them to dream.

•         The Naipaul-Lovelace School of Creative Writing at Tranquillity Government Secondary School to hone young people's expressive skills.

•         An Ecotourism School in Tobago's nature reserve to address environmental concerns and adapt to climate change or a School of Marine Biology in Bucco.

•         A School focused on Telecommunications and a School of Wellness and Health in Mount Hope.

 Professor Noguera’s position was clear – for students to be future-oriented, education must address upcoming challenges. Students shouldn’t merely learn about the present but should be encouraged to imagine and shape the future. Therefore, schools and universities should foster innovation from the start, rather than waiting for graduation to expect creativity.

 Echoing the sentiments expressed, Minister of Education, Dr. the Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly indicated, “Our educational landscape is evolving, the needs of our students, our young citizens, the needs of the nation and the region are changing, and we collectively must transform along with it. We must redefine and rethink our paradigms.”

 The UWI /Guardian Life of the Caribbean Limited partnership began well over two decades ago with The UWI Guardian of Life Premium Teaching Awards which has now become The UWI /Guardian Life Premium Open Lecture. Emphasizing the uniqueness of the lecture series, Mr. Gregg Mannette Head of Sales stressed that “internationally renowned educators are sourced to share their insight and expertise and this year is no exception,” The selected educators “embrace technology, reimagine their teaching methods and in doing so have opened the door to a new era of educational opportunities,” he added.

 Overall, The UWI/Guardian Life Premium Open Lecture successfully united diverse stakeholders invested in the future of education. In closing, the two purposes of education as shared by Professor Noguera were the key takeaways. He advanced that students must be integrated and mobilized with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in society and support themselves and their families. He also added that change and innovation were necessary to provide the next generation of children with the problem-solving and creative mindset to solve problems confronting society.

 The lecture provided a unique opportunity for educators, administrators, policymakers, and society at large to delve into vital discussions surrounding the need to adapt and innovate, the event shed light on the challenges faced by educational institutions and explored the array of opportunities emerging from the new normal.  

 The open lecture is available for viewing on The UWI St. Augustine Campus YouTube Channel:

https://youtu.be/sqrBxA0feP0

 

END

 

[L-R] Mr. Javed Mohammed, eLearning Support Specialist, Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), Dean and DistinguishedProfessor Pedro Antonio Noguera engages with Dr Leroy Hill Director, Centre for Excellence in Teaching and F Learning (CETL) and Mr. Mark Garcia, Research Officer, Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) at the Guardian Life Premium Open Lectures 2023

 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 nearly 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 the 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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