News Releases

The UWI and AMCHAM Partner to Advance AI, Workforce Skills and Digital Innovation

For Release Upon Receipt - April 20, 2026

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago – April 20, 2026 – As Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and the wider Caribbean seek to strengthen their capacity to respond to rapid technological change, deeper collaboration between academia and industry has become increasingly important to ensuring that innovation translates into practical national and regional development.

In this regard, the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre (AIIC) at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine Campus and the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) formalized a strategic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at advancing collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI), workforce development and digital transformation.

 

 Photo 1: Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, and Chief Executive Officer of American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago, Nirad Tewarie, formalise a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Faculty of Engineering, Kenneth S. Julien Building, The UWI St. Augustine Campus, on 14 April 2026.

The partnership brings together academic expertise and industry leadership to drive initiatives in research, training, policy development and innovation, with a particular focus on equipping businesses and professionals to adapt to rapidly evolving digital technologies.

Under the agreement, The UWI and AMCHAM T&T will collaborate on a range of activities, including joint research projects, professional development programmes, student internships and public education initiatives designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

A key focus of the partnership is the development of AI-related capacity across T&T and the wider Caribbean, including contributions to national policy on AI governance, data protection, cybersecurity and digital trade. This will also bring capacity building through academic programmes and continuing professional education short courses and micro-credentialing to the forefront of AI integration.

Commenting on the MOU, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Campus Principal of The UWI St Augustine Campus emphasized that, “it represents a deliberate shift from being consumers of technology to becoming creators of responsible, indigenous AI solutions shaped by our own realities. By partnering with AMCHAM T&T, we are strengthening the bridge between academic research and real‑world application, and ensuring that AI development in the Caribbean is grounded in innovation, ethics, and impact.”

 

 Photo 2: Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, and Chief Executive Officer of American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago, Nirad Tewarie, share a handshake following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), at the Faculty of Engineering, Kenneth S. Julien Building, The UWI St. Augustine Campus, on 14 April 2026, marking the establishment of a strategic partnership.

Speaking on the partnership, Nirad Tewarie, Chief Executive Officer of AMCHAM T&T, stated, “AMCHAM T&T is delighted to partner with The UWI and the AIIC specifically on this initiative. Closer partnership between Industry and Academia it represents a powerful but still largely untapped opportunity to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world application. This collaboration will enable our members and the wider private sector to better understand, adopt, and scale AI-driven solutions in a practical and responsible way. By working closely with one of the region’s leading centres of expertise, we can support stronger policy development, build digital capacity within companies, and position Trinidad and Tobago as a more competitive, future-ready economy.”

The UWI St. Augustine Campus has been at the forefront of advancing AI in the Caribbean, most notably through the establishment of its AIIC which positions the region to compete in a rapidly evolving digital economy.

This leadership in artificial intelligence makes the MOU with AMCHAM T&T especially timely and significant. Dr Craig Ramlal, Executive Director of the AIIC stated, “In the face of a poor research to commercialisation ethos throughout the region, the AIIC remains committed to developing the relationship between cutting edge ideas and digital products and goods, and we hope that this partnership will play a pivotal role in reversing this. Through this partnership with AMCHAM, we are also happy to explore what an AI and Policy guidebook can look like for companies and organizations.”

 

 Photo 3: (L–R) Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Deputy Director of the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre (AIIC), Professor Arvind Singh; Executive Director of the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre (AIIC), Dr Craig Ramlal; Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine; Chief Executive Officer of American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago, Nirad Tewarie; and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Bheshem Ramlal, display the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Faculty of Engineering, The UWI St. Augustine Campus, on 14 April 2026.

The partnership is also expected to support talent development and workforce upskilling, including the rollout of micro-credentials and short courses in areas such as AI literacy, cybersecurity and data analytics. Companies will also benefit from structured programmes to guide digital transformation and the adoption of emerging technologies.

The agreement further integrates collaboration with regional initiatives such as the AMCHAM T&T’s Tech Hub Islands Summit (THIS), where both organizations will contribute to technical workshops, innovation showcases and knowledge-sharing platforms designed to accelerate digital progress across the Caribbean.

END.

 About The University of the West Indies

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has played a crucial role in Caribbean development for over 75 years, consistently contributing to the improvement of the well-being of people across the region.

Established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica, with just 33 medical students, UWI has grown into an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, it boasts 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, along with international centres in partnership with universities across 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 leading university in the Caribbean, it is home to the largest pool of intellect and expertise in the region, dedicated to addressing the critical issues facing both the Caribbean and the wider world.

Validated by its inclusion in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual rankings since 2018, The UWI has affirmed its position as one of the top universities globally. It stands out as the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured in four of THE's prestigious ranking lists. The World University Rankings evaluate over 2,000 research-focused universities worldwide, while the Golden Age University Rankings highlight institutions established between 50 and 80 years ago. The Latin America Rankings focus specifically on universities within Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This recognition has also springboarded the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global online graduate business school aimed at preparing future leaders for sustainable development.

The UWI is an SDG-engaged university consistently recognised among the best in the world. Discover more at www.uwi.edu.

 

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