October 2018


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September and October are always full of energy at The UWI as the start of the new term brings with it fresh faces now embarking on their university journey. Students from Trinidad and Tobago joined students from many other countries including Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica and St Lucia in an outpouring of activities in the first week of term, showing the true spirit of The UWI as a regional institution.

To welcome and help orient all new students, The UWI organised the First Year Experience (FYE) programme, a holistic compilation of all orientation events which embraced every aspect of university life. This included airport greetings, campus tours, different faculty orientations and a “UWI Clicks Workshop” to introduce students to the university’s website, student portal and online resources.

A formal September 20 Matriculation ceremony at The UWI Sport and Physical Education Centre officially welcomed new students, chaired by newly appointed Acting Registrar David Moses. Jerry Medford, President of The UWI Alumni Association (T&T Chapter) welcomed new students while Campus Principal Professor Brian Copeland challenged students to become innovators through entrepreneurship. The UWI Arts Chorale of the Department of Creative and Festival Arts entertained students with a beautiful performance of the University Song, led by Senior Lecturer Jessel Murray.

Fun-filled GuildFest activities from September 3–7 drew many “Freshers” and returning students to the library quadrangle and other parts of campus. There were lively club booths offering membership to a wide variety of clubs and interests, from The Biological Society (with displays of live owls courtesy the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation), to The UWI Dance Club, the Hindu Society, and many other religious, scientific, recreational and cultural groups.

The week of GuildFest “Freshers” action included cultural shows, a talent night, a Hall Spirit night, a most delicious Caribbean food festival called “Taste UWI – A Fusion of Flava”, and a colourful Parade of Nations which ended in a carnivalesque impromptu jump-up by enthusiastic and patriotic students, several wrapped in their country’s flags. A Fresher’s Fete at the end of the week crowned it all off.

Here are some candid shots from the first couple weeks of term on campus.