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Teacher and Student Among Top Awardees at 2024 UWI/Guardian Life Premium Teaching Awards

For Release Upon Receipt - October 14, 2024

St. Augustine


 

[L-R] UWI Guardian Life of The Caribbean Premium Teaching Awardees 2024 , Dr Freddy James - Senior Lecturer, School of Education, Dr Yomica Powder-George - Lecturer, Organic Chemistry and Dr Letetia Addison Project Officer II, University Office of Planning.

St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago, October 14, 2024 – In celebration of excellence in education, The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), in collaboration with Guardian Life of The Caribbean, successfully hosted the UWI/Guardian Life of The Caribbean Premium Teaching Awards 2024 on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at the LRC Auditorium, The UWI St. Augustine Campus. This year’s recipients from The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Dr. Yomica Powder-George - Lecturer, Organic Chemistry, Dr. Freddy James - Senior Lecturer, School of Education, and Dr. Letetia Addison, Project Officer II, University Office of Planning were honoured for their commitment to enriching the learning experiences of their students.

The event, themed "Empowering Educators, Enriching Learners: The AI Education Era," focused on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. Participants explored how AI supports educators and revolutionises teaching and learning practices. The UWI/Guardian of The Caribbean Premium Teaching Awards, celebrating teaching excellence since 2000, showcases the longstanding partnership between The UWI St. Augustine Campus and Guardian Life of The Caribbean Limited. The awards aim to recognise and honour the dedication of educators who continuously strive to elevate the learning experience for students.

The keynote address was delivered by Professor Mike Sharples, Emeritus Professor of Educational Technology at The Open University, UK. As a global thought leader in AI and education, Professor Sharples shared invaluable insights into how AI can enhance curriculum design and assessment, simplify administrative processes, and foster a community of collaborative learners. He emphasised that AI is here to stay and will be an integral part of the education system. He urged educators to understand how AI is used, as students are already leveraging these technologies. Professor Sharples also highlighted the need to move away from traditional methods of assessment, advocating for more skills-based evaluations to mitigate the risk of students relying on AI for academic tasks. His expertise, reflected in over 300 publications and collaborations with institutions such as UNESCO and UNICEF, made for an engaging and informative session.

In his address, Dr. Brian Cockburn, Acting Deputy Principal of The UWI St. Augustine Campus remarked, “Education is not just about filling minds; it’s about lighting fires. The integration of AI into our educational practices holds the potential to ignite new pathways for teaching and learning, enriching the educational experience for both educators and students.” He acknowledged the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of generative AI in education, urging participants to embrace the benefits that AI offers while also recognizing the need for thoughtful policies to guide its integration into the educational framework.

President of Guardian Life of The Caribbean, Samanta Saugh, addressed the audience, highlighting the company's dedication to supporting educational advancement. She emphasised that AI holds the potential to shape a future that is not only more technologically advanced but also fair and equitable in the long run. Saugh expressed “ We are truly operating in uncharted territory with the advancement of AI and it is imperative that we are cognizant of the responsibility that we must all take-on as a result. Artificial intelligence represents one of the greatest opportunities to revolutionise how we work, learn and grow. We must embrace it as a tool for progress, with care, wisdom and integrity.”

Dr. Yomica Powder-George, Awardee expressed her gratitude on behalf of her fellow awardees stating, “This prestigious recognition not only embodies our individual teaching journeys but also the need to be adaptable as educators.” She reflected on the past four years of challenges and growth, emphasizing the significant role of educators in navigating the evolving landscape of education alongside AI.

She noted, “As educators, we must be authentic and intentional in our teaching. Our teaching philosophies are guided by the understanding that teaching should be inspiring, learning empowering, and that educators should adopt a holistic approach to student success.” Dr. Powder-George highlighted the importance of creating a psychologically safe and inclusive learning environment, fostering critical thinking and creativity.

She also acknowledged that their success was a collective effort, thanking the CETL team for their support and the collaborative spirit of their colleagues. Dr. Powder-George thanked her co-recipient Dr. James, who was actually her high school teacher, expressing gratitude for the key role she played in her educational journey. She shared how meaningful it was to stand alongside her as an awardee, highlighting the full circle of mentorship and learning. As she concluded, Dr. Powder-George urged everyone to embrace their roles as educators and innovators, stating, “Let us continue to soar together, inspired by our Pelican Pride, and ensure that The UWI remains at the forefront of educational excellence.”

In a special moment to close the ceremony, the CETL team Dr. LeRoy Hill Director, Centre for Excellence in Teaching  and Learning (CETL), The UWI, St. Augustine Campus and Dr. Justin Zephyrine, CETL Faculty Development Specialist presented a special award to Professor Indar Ramnarine, who recently retired from his post as Deputy Principal at The UWI St. Augustine. Professor Ramnarine is a distinguished academic in the field of Applied Ichthyology (Fisheries and Aquaculture) and began his term as Deputy Principal at the St. Augustine Campus in August 2017 and ended August 2024. “His leadership and expertise have been instrumental in shaping policies and initiatives that promote sustainable resource management and environmental protection. As the founding Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Professor Ramnarine led a major curriculum revision, introducing innovative programmes in technology and science,”  said the CETL team.

End

[L-R] Mr Gregg Mannette Vice President, Sales - Guardian Life of The Caribbean, Dr Brian Cockburn, Acting Deputy Principal and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Dr. the Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly Minister of Education Minister of Education, Dr Yomica Powder-George, Dr Letetia Addison, Dr Freddy James, Dr LeRoy Hill Director of The Centre For Excellence In Teaching and Learning, Ms. Samanta Saugh, President - Guardian Life of The Caribbean Limited and Feature Speaker Professor Mike Sharples.

 

 Ms. Samanta Saugh, President - Guardian Life of The Caribbean, delivers remarks at The UWI Guardian Life of The Caribbean Premium Teaching Awards 2024.

 

 Professor Mike Sharples delivers the feature address at The UWI Guardian Life of The  Caribbean Premium Teaching Awards 2024

 

Dr LeRoy Hill Director of The Centre For Excellence In Teaching and Learning (right) presents Professor Indar Ramnarine Former Deputy Principal of The UWI St Augustine Campus with a special award at The UWI Guardian Life of The Caribbean Premium Teaching Awards 2024.

About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier, higher education institution. One of only two regional universities in the world, it comprises five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE).

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu

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