News Releases

UWI/UN MOU opens opportunities for students in international trade

For Release Upon Receipt - June 24, 2024

UWI


 

The UWI Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, WI. Monday, June 24, 2024— Students at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Cave Hill Campus are set to benefit from expanded opportunities in international trade policy research and professional development following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between The UWI and the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services (SRC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The signing took place on June 18, 2024, at the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, coinciding with the annual study tour of Geneva undertaken by the Masters in International Trade Policy (MITP) students from the SRC. The agreement, signed by Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus Professor Clive Landis and UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno, promises to enhance the educational experience for students in the MITP program, including their annual study tour to Geneva, and promote research in trade and trade-related areas that the SRC has led for many years.

Principal Clive Landis praised the “thriving partnership” for strengthening trade research and engaging Caribbean students.

"This MOU signifies the joint commitment between our organizations to provide our students with unparalleled opportunities to gain practical experience and deepen their understanding of international trade policy, benefiting not only their academic pursuits but also their future careers” Landis added.

Pedro Manuel Moreno echoed these sentiments, highlighting the mutual benefits of the partnership, particularly in the area of research.

“Research is one of our main pillars of work,” said Mr. Moreno, referencing the organization’s core strength in providing data and analysis, facilitating consensus building, and offering technical assistance to developing countries. “Research is fundamental to inform policy dialogues and intergovernmental deliberations but also to feed our technical cooperation activities,” he added.

The new MOU will provide a robust platform for UWI students to engage in meaningful research and professional activities, further positioning them to become impactful contributors to international trade and sustainable development.

Building on over a decade of collaboration between UNCTAD and The UWI, the MOU strengthens joint research on trade-related topics relevant to the Caribbean region. It also enhances capacity building through student study tours, a cornerstone of their partnership. Since 2012, over 200 students have benefited from these tours, both in-person and virtual, gaining cutting-edge knowledge on the ever-evolving global economy and exposure to multilateralism in action.

The yearly visits have covered various critical issues on the Caribbean’s development agenda. These include the economic challenges small island developing states face, the sustainable ocean economy, climate change, regional trade integration, and preferential agreements like the European Union-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement.

Director of the SRC, Dr. Jan Yves Remy, Geneva-based Ambassador to the UN, Matthew Wilson of Barbados, Dean of Social Sciences at Cave Hill Campus Professor Troy Lorde, and staff from both the SRC and UNCTAD, as well as the MITP students were all in attendance at the ceremony to witness the signing.

END.

 

Front Row (left) Principal Landis and Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno display the newly signed MOU as staff and The UWI Cave Hill Campus and UNCTAD look on.

 

Front Row (From left) Barbados Ambassador Matthew Wilson, UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno, Principal Clive Landis, Director of the SRC Dr. Jan Yves Remy, Ms. Chantal Line Carpentier and Mr. David Vivas Eugui joined by students and staff of the Masters of International Trade Policy pose for a photo at Palais des Nations in Geneva.

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 center of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 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 Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The UWI offers over 1000 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 best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the 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 Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu

 

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