UWI TODAY is pleased to share the address by UWI Chancellor Dr Dodridge Miller at The UWI St Augustine Graduation Ceremonies 2024.
Good morning/afternoon, Class of 2024. Congratulations!
Today, you stand here with fellow graduates, family, and friends to celebrate a significant milestone in your lives. Completing your course of study showcases not only your academic prowess, but also your commitment and resilience. Many of you began this journey during a global health crisis, and your presence here today is a testament to your strength of character in overcoming significant challenges.
As you embark on this new and exciting chapter, you will encounter numerous opportunities and, undoubtedly, some challenges. Embrace the opportunities and use the skills and knowledge you’ve gained to navigate the complexities of the world.
Dream big and think with an open mind. Throughout your academic journey, you’ve been exposed to information that allows you to see the world through a broader lens. The examples and illustrations you’ve encountered during your study are not just theoretical props designed for the purpose of obtaining a degree; they reflect a real, interconnected world, the afterglow of the consciousness of millions of people going about their daily lives. Your local environment is part of this larger global space, where events and decisions made thousands of miles away can have a significant impact locally. Be assured that the knowledge you’ve gained at The University of the West Indies has prepared you to meet these events with confidence, whether they originate locally or are influenced by global circumstances. Approach issues from a broad perspective, even as you plan and act locally.
I was recently asked why The University of the West Indies pursues a global strategy when there are enough local problems to address. This question isn’t new. In a different setting, while discussing the merits of global thinking with local executives, a similar question arose: “Why not focus on our local circumstances since we are not competing globally?” To answer, I borrowed from a distinguished US university professor who shared a perspective with his business class on the necessity of global thinking.
He suggested: “Consider that in this interdependent global space, an American might drive to work in a car designed in Germany, assembled in Mexico by Daimler-Chrysler from components made in the US and Japan, fabricated from Korean steel and Malaysian rubber. He may fill the car with gasoline at a BP service station owned by a British multinational company. The gasoline could have been pumped from a well off the coast of Africa by a French oil company, transported to the US in a ship owned by a Greek shipping line.
While driving, the American might talk to his stockbroker on a Nokia cell phone designed in Finland, assembled in Texas using a chipset produced in Taiwan, designed by Indian engineers working for a firm in California. He could instruct his stockbroker to purchase shares in Deutsche Telekom, a German telecommunications company transformed into a global entity by an energetic Israeli CEO.
“He may turn on his car radio, which was made in Malaysia by a Japanese firm, to hear a popular song composed by a Swede and sung by a group of Danes in English, who signed a record contract with a French music company to promote their record in the US. The driver might pull into a drive-through coffee stall run by a Korean and order a latte and chocolate-covered biscotti. The coffee beans come from Brazil, the chocolate from Peru, while the biscotti were made locally using an old Italian recipe.”
This, the professor contended, was the essence of a globally connected world. This was the world in 2004, and while much has changed in the two decades, it remains the world we live in today. Nokia is no longer the mobile phone of choice, Chrysler has been spun off from Daimler which has since rebranded to Mercedes, and our taste in music may have evolved. However, the need to view the world as a large interconnected global space is as relevant today as it was then.
The often-used statement “think global, act local” is good advice. The UWI, even with its limited resources, cannot afford to view the world only as a local or regional construct. To do so would fail its graduates and the region. We must engage the world and participate in important research and conversations on matters of global consequence. By doing so, we will continue to produce graduates with the academic competence, and critical and strategic thinking to operate in any environment of their choosing. You, the members of the graduating class of 2024, are the beneficiaries of this global thinking.
The world is forever evolving. On that point of evolution, I note that, coinciding with this year's graduation ceremonies and the theme, “Celebrating Caribbean Legacy: A Kaleidoscope of Resilience”, new and modern academic regalia has been introduced for the Principal and campus officers to wear at formal ceremonies.
The academic regalia at UWI was first introduced in the 1960s. The most recent design was decades old, and after consulting with our university community, these redesigned gowns you see today better represent our Caribbean identity and symbolise yet another break from colonial ties.
I hope this initiative inspires you and reinforces that you are part of a vibrant heritage that refuses to accept the status quo. Embrace this moment, stand tall in your achievements, and let your resilience and success light the path forward for future generations.
Your journey of growth and learning doesn't end today. It merely evolves into new chapters. As your alma mater, we are committed to supporting you through every phase of this continuous evolution. Carry forward the spirit of resilience and innovation, and know that we look forward to witnessing and contributing to your future successes.
Stay curious and continue to seek knowledge and personal growth. Above all, use your talents and abilities to make a difference. Go forth and make us all proud.
Congratulations again on your significant achievement, and may the light continue to shine from the West. Well done, class of 2024. Thank you.
