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ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago – September 30, 2026 – The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St. Augustine Campus and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) have signed a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen football development, education, research and professional capacity in Trinidad and Tobago. 

 

The MOU, signed on Friday, September 11, 2026, establishes a framework for collaboration between The UWI’s Faculty of Sport and Department of Management Studies and the TTFA’s academies, administration and national teams. The partnership will create opportunities to connect The UWI’s academic and research expertise with the practical needs of the football sector, while expanding opportunities for student development and professional training. 

 

Dr. Roy McCree, Dean of The UWI’s Faculty of Sport, welcomed the partnership, noting its alignment with the Faculty’s mandate to build stronger connections with the sport industry.   He stated, “One of our mandates is to develop partnerships with industry to help develop programmes within the Sport sector. I welcome this MoU and wish all partners the very best.” 

 

The collaboration will span football, futsal, beach soccer, eFootball, youth football and high-performance programmes. Key areas of cooperation will include joint seminars and workshops, coaching education, professional development, technical support and knowledge exchange, bringing academic expertise and practical experience together across different areas of the game. 

 

A significant component of the agreement is the creation of opportunities for UWI students to gain practical experience in the football sector. These may include internships, practica, electives, research opportunities and match-day volunteering with the TT

FA also committing to give UWI students priority consideration for internships and related opportunities. 

 

Beyond student development, the partnership will support training and capacity-building in areas critical to the administration and development of sport including sports science, sport management, anti-doping, refereeing, safeguarding, nutrition, ethics, governance, financial management and athlete preparation. 

 

The MOU also places emphasis on expanding access to professional education in sports management. Where feasible, The UWI intends to provide an initial two half-scholarships to eligible participants, while the TTFA has committed to two half-scholarships annually for eligible candidates pursuing The UWI-FIFA/CIES Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management. The TTFA will also promote the programme throughout its network.  

 

Where feasible, both organisations will make facilities, expertise and resources available to support agreed activities. The TTFA may also provide access to football expertise and national teams for research and training, while supporting The UWI in developing relationships with relevant academic and sporting partners. The organisations also intend to develop co-branded initiatives, including a proposed annual UWI-TTFA Football Symposium bringing together academics, athletes, coaches, administrators and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and examine issues affecting the development of football and sport. 

 

Through the four-year agreement, The UWI and TTFA aim to create a stronger bridge between education, research and the football industry, providing students with meaningful exposure to the sector, strengthening professional capacity and supporting the continued development of football in Trinidad and Tobago. 

 

The MOU will remain in effect for four years from the date of signing with specific projects, financial arrangements, intellectual property matters and other detailed activities to be addressed separately between the parties, where required. 

 

 

Photo #1: Dr. Roy McCree, Dean of the Faculty of Sport, and Dr. Acolla Lewis-Cameron, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, flank Geoffrey Edwards, President of the Futsal Association of Trinidad and Tobago, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between The UWI Faculty of Sport and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA).

Photo #2: The Memorandum of Understanding between The UWI Faculty of Sport and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association is formally signed, marking a new collaboration between the two organisations.

Photo #3: The UWI and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association formalise their partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening collaboration in football.

Photo #4: Representatives of The UWI and Mr. Yale Antoine, Executive Secretary and Acting League CEO of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), display the signed Memorandum of Understanding following the official signing ceremony.

 

Photo #5: Representatives of The UWI, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and the Futsal Association of Trinidad and Tobago gather following the MoU signing. Those present included from left to right: Mr. Geoffrey Edrwards, Futsal Association of Trinidad and Tobago; Mr. Yale Anotine, TTFA Executive Secretary and Acting League CEO; Dr. Roy McCree, Dean, Faculty of Sport; Dr. Acolla Lewis-Cameron, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences; Mrs. Sherlan Cabralis, Lecturer in Sports Management; Calisia Gregoire, Programme Coordinator for Sports Management, and Vincent Monnier, CIES Senior Manager International Relations.

 

 

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 spring boarded 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.