July 2015


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Message from the Principal: The profile of a successful student and a world class university

On many occasions I have been asked my opinion on what do I believe to be the characteristics and attributes of a good student. Questions have also been posed as to how have we at The UWI contributed to ensuring that all our students attain not only their true potential, but also meet the minimum threshold of being considered good students; ones who will eventually contribute to the needs of the society.

Traditionally, The UWI has always benefitted from having talented students, many of whom would have scored highly on their CAPE examinations. This cadre of students will usually bring with them specific characteristics, such as a history of commitment to their studies, clear focus on the future, along with a competitiveness that drives their enthusiasm to do well. Important to note is that the entrance requirements at The UWI St. Augustine depends on students excelling in these exams. Sadly however, due to the competitiveness and limited space available in some areas of study, some applicants have had to be denied, or given deferred entry, like in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. As many would be now aware, we are working to change this situation, and there is tremendous expansion taking place at The UWI-St. Augustine, with the primary objective of giving deserving students a chance to pursue their dreams.

Over the recent years The UWI has broadened its intake policy, now to include students who would have pursued Associate degrees, or Diploma and Certificate programmes subsequent to taking their CSEC examinations. This policy inevitably presents another type of student, many of whom may have chosen to be part of the workforce for a few years, then going on to pursue diploma or certificate paths, before applying to come to The UWI. There has been evidence that supports the fact that these mature students coming to us from an alternate track, in many cases do well at The UWI. Many are working students, registered in our Evening University. They are extremely focused and demonstrate a dedication and drive to go beyond the call of duty, with many graduating with honours. We welcome such mature students to our Campus.

Another area that should be viewed as an important component of the educational development of students is, adopting a deliberate approach to fostering their emotional and social development. While we have no shortage of intelligent, academically gifted students, there is an urgent need to combine those qualities with characteristics that foster the acquisition of fundamental qualities that reflect the caring, passionate, social attributes that must guide our thoughts and actions as human beings. With this being said, it is imperative that we have an adaptable education system that caters for two important things; the student’s ability and the changing needs of societies. All learners in today’s society should be equipped with knowledge and skills that would allow them to inculcated respect for human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence. Students must be taught to accept the reality that they form and must contribute also to a global citizenship. As part of our curriculum we must insist on our student body being appreciative and accepting to our cultural diversity and its valid contribution to sustainable development and overall social well-being.

Only last week I attended the 19th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers held in the Bahamas, where various ministers of governments were in attendance. At that conference I witnessed the central thrust of many of the participants, in adopting and realizing the term ‘humanizing education’; in our educational development systems. To borrow a quote from Haim G. Ginott, a concentration camp survivor and an educator, “help your students become more human. Your efforts must never produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths, or educated Eichmanns. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are important only if they serve to make our children more human.”

In essence, in keeping with the tenets enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), education should be geared to the complete development of the human personality and to the reinforcement and strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It has now become more important to measure our institutions adherence to such an important aspect of student development, and equally as essential to manage the process to ensure that it is accomplished.

The provisions now being made at The UWI is in keeping with this new approach, starting with the broadening of the spectrum of the demographics from which our students come. The diversity of this student body brings tremendous value to the overall student population at The UWI campus. The UWI St. Augustine will continue to create new opportunities to increase our enrolment, while at the same time provide the best practices available to ensure that our diverse student population is well prepared to make a significant contribution to our local and regional workforce, to the world as many do, and at the same time strengthen the interwoven fabric of our social diversity.

EDITORIAL TEAM

Campus Principal: Professor Clement Sankat
Director of Marketing and Communications: Dr. Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill
Editor: (Ag) Rebecca Robinson [rebecca.robinson@sta.uwi.edu]

Contact us:
The UWI Marketing and Communications Office
Tel: (868) 662-2002 exts. 82013, 83997
Email: uwitoday@sta.uwi.edu