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The UWI Advances Decolonisation New Academic Dress to be unveiled at 2024 Graduation Ceremonies

For Release Upon Receipt - October 15, 2024

UWI


The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Tuesday, October 15, 2024—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) celebrates its rich Caribbean legacy and continued evolution as an independent university, as it takes one step closer to a complete break from colonial ties.

 The institution’s 2024 graduation ceremonies will include the unveiling of a new collection of academic regalia (gowns), significantly redesigned for the first time in seven and a half decades.

 The redesign reflects a consultative process that engaged the University community, ensuring that the gowns resonate with the spirit of contemporary Caribbean society. They now feature vibrant, eye-catching designs as a tribute to the region's colours, textures, and culture with the creative input of staff members Dr Rajeev Venugopal and Dara Jordan-Brown, who conceptualised and sketched the bespoke pattern and a talented Jamaican fashion designer, Tonycia Jarrett who designed the full suite of regalia. The gowns also contain significant elements of the University's brand identity, represent its dedication to sustainability and were manufactured here in the region by Donald Mirander (Rednarim) from fabric that is more suitable to the tropical climate. The collection proudly celebrates UWI's Caribbean identity and independence from colonial ties.

 Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles sees this critical step as part of the institution’s unique and multi-part journey of decolonisation. The economic historian said, “The story of The UWI’s academic dress parallels its history. We celebrated our 75th Diamond Jubilee anniversary, knowing we were entering a significant new era. It is one where we stand proudly Caribbean. The new regalia is both symbolic and significant. We have stripped off another layer of the cloak of colonialism.”

 In 2019, the collegial endorsement from the Royal Family and the Privy Council to shift the powers of the Office of the Visitor to the Honourable Justice Rolston Fitzherbert Nelson—a position previously held by Her Majesty the Queen of England—was another significant milestone in the journey. The envisioned final step is for The UWI to enjoy a similar status to other regional bodies centred upon the Treaty of Chaguaramas—such as CARICOM—a shift in power to grant its degrees as an intrinsically Caribbean institution.

 When The UWI came into being in 1962 under the Royal Charter and Statutes there was also the need for its own distinctive academic dress. The University, at that time adopted the Chancellor’s gown as its first official academic dress. It was first worn by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, The UWI’s first Chancellor. The collection of regalia for Principal Officers that followed has served the institution to present day.

 The carefully managed process for redesigning The UWI’s academic dress started with University Senate approval in 2019 and was led by a subcommittee Chaired by University Registrar Dr Maurice D. Smith. In 2021, the University Finance and General Purposes Committee gave its stamp of approval, stipulating that the gowns were to be made in the Caribbean. The University community was then engaged and shared insights which closely informed the 2024 regalia designs. 

 Traditionally, graduation and other formal ceremonies commence with an academic procession and/or Chancellor's procession. This year, the University community and onlookers will witness a special display of 'the spirit of Caribbean-ness' in the Graduation processions as Principal Officers don the new regalia.

 The 2024 graduation ceremonies run from October 12 through November 9, 2024 across The UWI's five campuses. Well-wishers from across the globe can view the ceremonies being broadcasted live via UWItv at www.uwitv.global, UWItv's Facebook live feed, its Flow EVO channels, and all-new mobile app on any device, powered by Flow's Bluu.

 Read more about the story of our redesigned academic regalia at: https://www.uwi.edu/regaliaredesign/

 

 End

Notes to the Editor

The complete graduation schedule and further details are available at https://uwitv.global/uwigrad24/

 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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