Message from the Principal: The university as an enterprise
 Managing a university is a very complex task, given that public, not-for-profit educational institutions are not driven by the same kinds of bottom lines or values as the average private corporation or private university.
What has been increasingly apparent in the last decade or so has been the rapid expansion of the higher education system, significantly enhanced student intakes, more providers/institutions, on-line delivery of programmes, Government’s support for the education sector with a secondary school system that is also widening and enhancing its capabilities, together with the GATE Programme, have been tremendous drivers.
Greater competition too, springing from every imaginable domain, has also increased the challenge to find creative ways to make our education systems not only quality driven, relevant and meaningful, but sustainable in every possible way.
It has meant recalibrating our instruments of planning and rethinking our roles and responsibilities as we rise to the demands of the times, as reflected in our Strategic Plan for 2012-2017, University wide.
As I humbly accept the vote of confidence placed in me by the University Council in supporting another term as Principal of the St Augustine Campus, I am mindful that what lies ahead requires a more vigorous shift in thinking that moves away from the concept of managing an academy to one that sees it as managing an enterprise, without departing from our core academic values. With 19,000 students and 3,000 staff members, needs are as numerous as the possibilities to partner with the public and private sectors. We are going to do much more here.
Our Strategic Plan narrows in on the realm of research and development initiatives such as the UWI-Trinidad and Tobago RDI Fund (Research and Development Impact) which provides funding and support for projects that can significantly enhance the quality of life. We are also pushing ahead with plans to adequately resource and reward a vibrant research culture and innovation – research that can translate into commercial activity is a priority.
A more entrepreneurial approach means that where we can package and sell our services and resources, we will. No area is to be left untouched; from the new package of services being offered by the Chemistry Department, the chocolates we are processing at the Cocoa Research Centre, to the RDI Fund national citrus project we launched in December, as featured in this issue of the paper. A key resource in this undertaking is our UWI Graduates, our Alumni, leaders in all fields. We are going to mobilise them more than ever before.
It is about making our resources and expertise available and making our resources and expertise work for us, that is, leveraging our assets: the essence of sustainable development. It is about transformation.
Pro Vice Chancellor & Principal
EDITORIAL TEAM
Campus Principal: Professor Clement Sankat
Director of Marketing and Communications: Mrs. Dawn-Marie De
Four-Gill
Director of Marketing and Communications (Ag.): Mrs. Wynell Gregorio
Editor: Ms. Vaneisa Baksh
Contact us:
The UWI Marketing and Communications Office
Tel: (868) 662-2002 exts. 82013, 82014
Email: uwitoday@sta.uwi.edu
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