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May 2012
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Message from the Principal: Leadership and the University
Today’s UWI is a complex institution, with a shared governance model, often not understood by many, one which manifests itself at the Departmental, Faculty, Campus and University Centre levels. All of our leaders have to engage these layers of responsibility, including the extensive Committee systems of decision-making, to ensure the University is meeting its strategic goals and delivery of its promise. This system, with its checks and balances, brings rigor, integrity and transparency in the University’s operations. Decision-making can at times be slow but in the main, such decisions are well thought out. In this way The UWI, with its regional governance model, has withstood the test of time. Campuses today are vast and complex institutions, in the service of both our internal and external stakeholders. It is about teaching, research and service, and striving for quality in all that we do. Expectations for our Campus and University continue to rise: enhanced access, graduate education, research, social transformation, income generation, international recognition etc, while meeting the needs of an expanded student population—now more than 19,000 at St. Augustine. But our leaders have to manage beyond this complexity, set a vision and direction for our Campuses and University, articulate and sometimes plead for the necessary funding of our institution from our public and private partners and then execute. They have to be the pillars of our University and exemplify its core values such as maintaining a commitment to the pursuit of excellence, building respect for cultural diversity and the rule of law and fostering ethical values, attitudes and approaches. Our University and Campus leaders have to be academic leaders, so as to assess and mentor those under their wings. Our Campus Principals and Pro Vice Chancellors, all recognized scholars in their own right, have moved through the ranks of academia, had to overcome numerous challenges and treat with very difficult situations and in their own styles, have helped to make our regional University under the leadership of our Vice Chancellor, Professor E. Nigel Harris much stronger. I salute them all. As former Vice Chancellor, the late Professor Rex Nettleford has reminded us, “The UWI is not a sprint, it is a marathon.” Clement K. Sankat |
At the recent meeting of our University Council at Mona, the Principals of the Mona, Cave Hill and Open Campus of The UWI were renewed and reaffirmed. Congratulations to my colleagues, Professors Gordon Shirley, Hilary Beckles and Hazel Simmons-McDonald respectively.