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February 2010
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From the Principal: The St. Augustine Campus - Fifty and Forging Ahead
At the launch, the building that has become the iconic symbol of the UWI St. Augustine Campus, the Administration Building, will be rededicated. The Admin Building, as it is fondly called, has undergone a significant makeover to bring it in line with ergonomic design, but its exterior has not been changed, save for the colours that convey a distinctive Caribbean warmth—quite removed from the cool off-white shade it carried since it was completed in 1935. Then, it had been designed as the home for ICTA, and was meant to be the primary training centre in the British Empire for all things related to tropical agriculture. In 1960, when the UCWI took over the St Augustine Campus, ICTA became our Faculty of Agriculture, and with the subsequent establishment of the Faculty of Engineering, the process of building this Campus into the Caribbean institution it is now, began in earnest. Fifty years on, thousands of our graduates have emerged as leaders and professionals in countless fields in Trinidad and Tobago, the wider Caribbean and across the globe. The distinctive UWI graduates we produce are our ambassadors of academic quality, excellence and service, values that define our institution and the UWI brand we cherish. In contributing to the development of our country and region, the St. Augustine Campus has also been shaped and nurtured by society and the people we serve. Our research, taught courses, partnerships and activities to stimulate debate and engage the community are all testament to this. As an academic institution proud of its history, traditions and recognition, we can rightfully celebrate this significant milestone—our 50 years of dedication, service and regionality—attributes which were personified by our late Vice Chancellor Emeritus Professor Rex Nettleford. As we celebrate this historic occasion, we are indeed grateful for the continued support of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and all our stakeholders who have contributed in some way to creating the Campus we have today. Amidst the myriad events that will unfold in our dynamic world, the process of development and transformation at the UWI St. Augustine Campus will quietly continue, as we seek to strengthen our contribution as well as enhance the relevance and impact of all that we do.
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In just under two weeks, on March 12, the St Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies will launch its 50th anniversary celebrations. These celebrations are planned to encompass a year, marked by a special week of activities from October 10-15, to commemorate the formal merger between the University College of the West Indies (UCWI) and the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture (ICTA) on October 12, 1960.