December 2009


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UWI Development & Endowment Fund

By Victor Cowan, Secretary UWI Development and Endowment Fund

The Trinidad & Tobago Fund was launched in April 1989 with its primary objective being the establishment of a Development & Endowment Fund which would enable the University to provide scholarships at the undergraduate and post graduate levels, to alleviate the financial hardship of deserving students and to facilitate student interchange between the campuses.

The Fund was also designed to help research in selected areas, to facilitate the endowment of Chairs and Lectureship in key disciplines, and to financially support capital projects.

Managed by a committee comprising a chairman and members representing business, the UWI Alumni and The University, the Fund has sought and obtained financial support from corporate Trinidad and Tobago, professional associations and through committee projects. That combination of resources has elevated the Fund to the position of major contributor of financial assistance to students on an annual basis.

Whereas donors identify their disciplines of choice for their scholarships and bursaries, students from all faculties are eligible for bursaries offered by the Fund and they recognise academic achievement as well as financial need.These bursaries complement the Government’s payment of fees and assist in accommodation, academic material, food and travel expenses.

When one compares the 15 bursaries offered in 1992 with the quantum leap to 160 currently on offer, it is clear that nineteen years of the UWI Fete and the five renewals of the UWI Golf Challenge have been very successful fundraising vehicles. In addition, prudent management of funds under investment provides the assurance of sustainable funding as is to be expected from an endowment fund.

Though our main focus has been the provision of bursaries, we also take pride in having provided the seed money for the construction of the highly utilized UWI SPEC building and securing project funding for the Department of Chemistry as well as the School of Education.

What is in it for us? The Chairman and members give generously of their time and resources and derive satisfaction from the success of our initiatives but, occasionally, polite thanks from a grateful student or parent go to another plane. On one occasion, a student who had been awarded a bursary sent hand written “Thank You” cards to the entire Board. It was a poignant moment for us all.