News Releases

UWI & ANSA McAL Forge Stronger Partnership with New MOU

For Release Upon Receipt - December 19, 2025

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago – December 19th December, 2025 – As a partnership that endorses a shared commitment to cooperate in talent acquisition, employer branding, academic collaboration, student development, professional training and research, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus continues to forge a stronger partnership with ANSA McAL, one of the Caribbean’s leading conglomerates. After signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), both institutions see the partnership as a strategic investment in the future of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean, aligning with a mission to strengthen the region’s workforce and broaden opportunities for its people. The signing ceremony took place at the Office of the Campus Principal, at The UWI St. Augustine Campus, on Monday 10th December, 2025.

 

 Signed and Sealed: (L-R) Ms. Vanessa Smith, Talent Acquisition & Experience Manager, The ANSA McAL Group, Ms. Amy Lazzari, Chief People and Culture Officer, The ANSA McAL Group, Prof. Derek Chadee, Deputy Principal of The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Dr. Kathy-Ann Lewis, Manager, Careers, Co-Curricular and Community Engagement, Division of Student Services and Development.

 

In a significant step toward deepening industry-academic collaboration, the agreement sets the stage for expanded joint initiatives that support talent development and innovation, to foster national and regional advancement. The partnership between The UWI St. Augustine Campus and ANSA McAL spans approximately 15 years and has remained resilient through major socio-economic and environmental shifts. It has provided numerous internships, employment opportunities, placements within the ANSA McAL Group, and the development of specialized training programmes, standing as a model of impactful and enduring university-industry engagement.

ANSA McAL’s involvement with The UWI continues to evolve as industries transform, especially in response to changing workplace expectations and graduate competencies in the post-pandemic era. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics have reinforced the value of this long-standing relationship.

Speaking at the signing, Ms. Amy Lazzari, Chief People and Culture Officer, ANSA McAL Ltd highlighted that, “Through this collaboration, we gain direct access to one of the region’s most influential academic institutions. It accelerates our ability to build robust talent pipelines for critical roles and enhance our employer brand on campus. Beyond talent acquisition, this partnership reinforces our core purpose of ‘Inspiring Better Choices for a Better World’ and represents the future of our region”.

This partnership has grown steadily, from early requests for data entry clerks to a wide range of vacation and graduate internships, entry-level positions and the distinctive ANSA McAL Champions Programme. Increasing engagements with The UWI’s prestigious alumni network further signal ANSA McAL’s confidence in the hallmark attributes of UWI graduates.

Both organizations committed to revisiting and strengthening the relationship through the establishment of a formal MOU. After productive discussions led by The UWI’s Office of the Deputy Principal, the agreement has now been executed.

Deputy Principal of The UWI St. Augustine, Professor Derek Chadee said, “We are proud to work in partnership with forward-thinking institutions such as the ANSA McAL Group and recognize the value of leveraging our collective strengths in driving transformative change across the Caribbean. Ultimately this partnership aims to enhance academic excellence and research, and we thank ANSA McAL for the confidence and the opportunity in creating meaningful opportunities for students and the workforce”.

The signing marks a new beginning - both The UWI St. Augustine Campus and ANSA McAL anticipate that this MOU will serve as a platform for expanded initiatives, deeper cooperation and more collaborations in the years ahead.

END

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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