The School for Graduate Studies and Research was established in August 1996 as the operational arm of the Board for Graduate Studies and Research on the recommendation of The 1994 UWI Chancellor’s Commission on Governance. This was in response to the need in the region for higher level advanced education, and the increasing emphasis that The UWI has been placing upon graduate education and research as the defining strength of its academic portfolio. Without underestimating the importance of a strong undergraduate foundation, it was recognised then that for developing countries to advance beyond the stage of “developing”, education at the highest professional and academic levels, rooted in national, regional and international aspirations and standards, must not only be strengthened but must flourish.
Over the past three decades, the SGSR has been central to the University’s mandate “to advance learning, create knowledge and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean and the wider world.” Through the development and oversight of high-quality graduate programmes, the supervision of postgraduate research, and the cultivation of scholarly excellence, the SGSR has contributed significantly to building the region’s intellectual capital. Its graduates – many of whom now serve as leaders in academia, government, industry, and civil society – are a testament to its enduring impact.
The SGSR has been at the forefront of addressing the challenges affecting Small Island Developing States by supporting interdisciplinary research, strengthening research capacity, and promoting evidence-based policy engagement in areas such as climate resilience, artificial intelligence, public health, social protection, and children’s rights.
On its 30th Anniversary, it intends to showcase the SGSR’s achievements, engage key stakeholders, mobilize resources, renew its commitment for positioning The UWI as a leading hub for graduate education and research in the Caribbean and greater World.