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June 2012
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Message from the Principal: A new approach to research and development
We often hear from members of the public that they are not aware of the research conducted by The UWI and its impact on their lives. We continue to work at more effectively promoting what we do and in March of this year, the UWI St. Augustine Campus launched a major initiative—the UWI-Trinidad and Tobago Research and Development Impact Fund (RDI Fund)—which is specifically geared towards producing more relevant research by providing funding for projects that address pressing issues in six thematic areas: Climate Change and Environmental Issues, Crime, Violence and Citizen Security, Economic Diversification and Sector Competitiveness, Finance and Entrepreneurship, Public Health, and Technology and Society. The RDI Fund is unique in that it goes beyond providing financing for research. Its operational guidelines and monitoring and evaluation framework incorporate mechanisms for strengthening linkages between UWI research, scholarly outputs (such as peer-reviewed articles, technical reports and publications) knowledge transfer and dissemination and impact on regional development. This is a first for The UWI and based on the feedback, we are confident that it is a step in the right direction. I encourage multilateral donors as well as public and private sector agencies to contribute to this Fund as it could serve as a catalyst for shaping new partnerships between academia, industry and public sector organizations that drive policy formulation at the national and regional levels. We look forward to the results of these projects, which will guide the development of new policies, products, services, etc. and in so doing, promote a better understanding of the impact of UWI research on society and help to maintain UWI’s preeminence in the area of research and knowledge transfer in the Caribbean. Clement K. Sankat |
On June 4, a very important report was presented by the Health Economics Unit of the Department of Economics, led by Professor Karl Theodore, which is featured in this issue. This collaborative UNICEF report, “Situation Analysis of Children and Women in Trinidad and Tobago,” is the first of its kind to be done in Trinidad and Tobago and addresses the progress made in fulfilling the rights of women and children. It is a clear example of the strategic partnerships between our Campus and other organizations to advance real solutions to the myriad challenges to our society.