News Releases

The One-UWI Graduate Student Conference Shaping the Future through Interdisciplinary Excellence

For Release Upon Receipt - November 24, 2023

UWI


The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Friday, November 24, 2023—The University of the West Indies (UWI) proudly showcased "The One-UWI Postgraduate Student Conference," a transformative three-day online event hosted by the School for Graduate Studies and Research (SGSR) from November 15-17, 2023. Celebrating The UWI's 75th anniversary and esteemed global ranking, this conference spotlighted graduate students' significant contributions across diverse programmes on its five campuses.

Under the theme "Preparing for the New Global Era: Voices of Future Leaders," The One-UWI Postgraduate Student Conference explored ten pivotal focal areas, addressing climate resilience, food security, universal good health, nature-based solutions, and the implications of 21st-century digital transformation. The conference delved into governance and labour market challenges in small states, social and cultural issues in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), legal frameworks in sustainable development, and diverse perspectives on contemporary educational issues. Additionally, it examined transformative elements of empowerment, activism, and representation in the context of identities.

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, in his remarks, emphasised the conference's focus on interdisciplinary research, highlighting its relevance to global challenges, such as climate change, resilience, culture, food security, health, technology, and pedagogy, and Caribbean society's pivotal role in global affairs.

 Professor Aldrie Henry-Lee, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Graduate Studies and Research, expressed pride in students' cutting-edge research, aligning with the university's strategic goal to enhance research quality and quantity, aiming to cultivate highly skilled researchers.

 Representing Campus Directors, Graduate Studies and Research, Professor Marcia Roye extended heartfelt congratulations to presenters, recognising their contributions as budding researchers.

 On the first day, Dr. Tyrone Hall, Keynote Speaker and Strategic Outreach Advisor at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations, illuminated students' readiness for careers in sustainability. He underscored the crucial function of interdisciplinary education in adept problem-solving, encouraging humility, and the upholding of ethical values.

 During the second day, Mr. Kyle Maloney, Co-Founder/Director of Tech Beach Retreat, initiated the conversation by highlighting the non-linear trajectory of the Caribbean's future. Maloney provided four key strategies for researchers: dream big, embrace failure as a part of the journey, foster collaboration, and infuse positive energy into the world.

 Delivering the keynote on the third day, Ms. Rosina Casserly, Former Director of Strategy at Saatchi & Saatchi, Dubai, stressed the significance of soft skills such as empathy and intuition in leadership, particularly within diverse spaces/backgrounds.

 This conference exemplifies The UWI's commitment to fostering interdisciplinary excellence, preparing future leaders for the challenges and opportunities of the new global era.

 For further details on this annual conference including upcoming calls for abstracts, visit https://uwi.edu/gsr/pgcon.

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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 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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