News Releases

First Citizens On-boards 9th Cohort of UWI Interns

For Release Upon Receipt - July 7, 2025

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. July 7th, 2025: Now in its ninth year, the First Citizens Internship Programme continues to open doors for students of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine Campus, on-boarding 18 interns on June 6, 2025 at the First Citizens Corporate Centre, Port of Spain. Over the years, the Group has built a strong track record of providing invaluable work experience through this hallmark programme under its Youth Development and Education Corporate Social Responsibility pillar. The interns will participate in an immersive 10-week internship designed to provide practical training and an introduction to soft work skills and mentorship opportunities.

 

 Ms. Karen Darbasie - Group Chief Executive Officer, First Citizens addresses the 2025 Cohort of UWI Interns

 In welcoming the interns, Ms. Karen Darbasie - Group Chief Executive Officer, spoke highly of the initiative “The First Citizens UWI Internship is an exceptional programme that aligns the University’s academic excellence perfectly with our goal for fostering future-ready talent for the nation’s workforce.” She then challenged them to “… take ownership of your experience. Ask questions, seek feedback and challenge yourselves. Every task and project is an opportunity to build your skills and your personal brand.” Also meeting with the interns at their on-boarding were, Mr. Jason Julien - Group Deputy CEO-Business Generation and Mrs. Neela Moonilal-Kissoon – Group Deputy CEO-Operations and Administration, who also shared their experiences and few light moments with the students.

 

 Mr. Jason Julien - Group Deputy CEO-Business Generation takes a selfie with some of the interns

 

 Highlighting the importance of this partnership, Ms. Kathy Ann Lewis, Manager of Careers, Co-Curricular and Community Engagement at The UWI St. Augustine, reflected on the broader impact by stating, “This partnership, which has grown significantly in both reach and impact, expanding to include more faculties and programmes, is a promising sign for the future of the national world of work landscape.” She emphasized that, “The initiative demonstrates how collaboration between the faculties and the Careers and Placement Department works to produce graduates prepared to transition and thrive in the workplace with on-demand skills and competencies that employers require, and which continues to set our graduates ahead of their cohort.”

 

 The 2025 First Citizens UWI Interns with the members of the Executive Team

 The UWI Internship Programme continues to serve as a signature initiative of First Citizens, demonstrating its commitment to developing future leaders in technology and business. For more information about the World of Work programme at The UWI, please visit https://sta.uwi.edu/wow/ 

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About The University of the West Indies

 The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier higher education institution and one of only two regional universities in the world. With 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 continues to be a beacon of academic excellence, research innovation, and societal impact. Consistently ranked among the world’s best by Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is a global leader in addressing critical challenges, including climate change, sustainability, and development.

  As The UWI St. Augustine Campus celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2025 under the theme Beyond 65: From the Caribbean, For the World, it pays tribute to its Caribbean roots while highlighting its contributions to solving global challenges. This milestone underscores the campus's significant role in producing ground-breaking research and fostering talent that transcends regional boundaries to shape a better world. The UWI St. Augustine’s researchers, academics, and graduates continue to make an international impact, exemplifying the university’s mission to serve the region while influencing the world.

  Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

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