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September 2013
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While this is still so, times have changed in that students do not move around as much among our campuses, and technology, even as it has brought everything into the home space, has not encouraged the human contact that physical interaction brings. The International Office and the Institute of International Relations have been working together to find ways to open the minds and hearts of the student populace and came up with the concept of an International Week, themed, Knowledge Without Borders, that would bring a spectrum of events to the St. Augustine campus presenting elements of learning in a global context. The IWeek, as it is called, runs from October 7-11, and features foreign films, international food, a student exchange fair, volunteer opportunities, music, and even foreign language speed dating. The week begins with a private ceremony at the JFK Quadrangle at 10am and a lecture by the doyen of West Indian integration, Sir Shridath Ramphal at 7pm. There will be many other fascinating lectures, panel discussions and dialogues as well. Wednesday October 9 has been dubbed International Dress Day, and the St. Augustine campus will be invited to turn out in national costumes of any heritage. Knowing the flair and panache inherent, we are sure to see some magnificent representations of our diverse heritage. For more information about iWeek, please visit www.sta.uwi.edu/iweek, or contact the Institute of International Relations through Mrs. Marilyn Ramon-Fortune at marilyn.ramon-fortune@sta.uwi.edu | Tel/ext: (868)-662-2002 ext.82084; Ms. Ekana McAlister at ekana.mcalister@sta.uwi.edu, ext: 83235; or the International Office through Ms. Colette Hosten at colette.hosten@sta.uwi.edu – Tel/ext: 868-662-2002 ext. 82480; Ms. Ava Claxton at ava.claxton@sta.uwi.edu, ext.82681. |
It is almost paradoxical that in a region renowned for its diversity, the strains of insularity still plague efforts at development. In the past, separate UWI campuses with different faculties, propelled students to move around in order to study their fields of choice. It promoted a larger, more profound sense of what it means to be West Indian among students, and those who have studied and worked outside of their homelands have attested to this broadening of their personal landscapes.