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UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 1ST FEBRUARY, 2015
OUR CAMPUS
The annualWorld ofWork (WOW)
programme kicked off
this year with a “ResumeWritingWorkshop” on January 29
at the Daaga Auditorium, and a lot more is to follow.
The initiative is done byTheUWI, St. AugustineCampus
in collaboration with Republic Bank Ltd and prepares
final-year students for the world of work by providing
training in key areas such as writing resumes, preparing
for interviews, dressing for success, financial planning,
networking and taking part in mock interviews with real
professionals, including UWI alumni. Past presenters
include: Karel McIntosh, Lead Communications Trainer
for the Livewired Group and Catherine Gordon, Image,
Etiquette & International Protocol Consultant/Trainer who
will also be a presenter in this year’s programme.
Students have already learned about resume writing
through workshops that have been running since October
2014. They will gain knowledge on the art of interpersonal
communication and non-verbal cues in the “Interview
Preparation/Networking Theory. Another highlight is the
Interview Preparation workshop, which will take place on
February 5. This will help them gain a competitive edge
during future job searches.
Institutionalising
Best Practice in
Higher Education
The UWI is to host
a regional higher education
conference to address the institutionalisation of best
practice in the small island developing states of the
Caribbean. Scheduled for June 24 to 26, 2015 and
organised by The UWI’s Quality Assurance Unit and
Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, the
conference aims at sharingways of infusing best practice
principles in the management and administration of
higher education institutions.
Professor AlanCobley, UWI’s ProVice-Chancellor
for Undergraduate Studies, noted “a proliferation of
providers of tertiary education for Caribbean people,
whether in face-to-face or online modes. This has
been driven partly by the growing developmental
needs of the region and our people, and partly by the
involvement of the region. Yet quality assurance in
higher education is still in its formative stages and, in
that sense, unfinished business for the region.”
During the three-day conference at UWI’s St
Augustine Campus, therefore, higher education
professionals and other stakeholders will explore
strategies for embedding best practice principles in
institutional systems, processes and procedures, in
support of institutional transformation and the pursuit
of excellence. Areas of challenge currently facing the
Caribbean higher education sector will be the focus.
Day one will deal with “Context and Its Impact on Best
Practice”, day two, “Best Practice, Good Practice, & and
Promising Practice Identifying the Evidence” and day
three, “Strategies for Institutionalising Best Practice in
Higher Education Institutions”.
Interested persons can log onto
/
for further information.
Agricultural Innovation
It is about
“innovating the development model for
Caribbean agriculture,” says the implemental agreement
that followed the MOU signed between The UWI and
China Agricultural University on the Development of
the UWI-CAU Agricultural Innovation Park.
“In order to further develop agricultural education,
research, experimentation and demonstration in
agriculture, the Parties will test new varieties, facilities,
equipment, technologies, concepts and models at
the Park. The Parties will also demonstrate cropping
patterns and production flows of distinctive crops
currently cultivated in Trinidad and Tobago,” says the
agreement.
This agreement, which was signed on December
10, 2104, followed the February signing of the MoU
which was witnessed by PrimeMinister Kamla Persad-
Bissessar, and Mr Wang Ying, Director General,
Department of International Cooperation, of the
Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of
China.
The Innovation Park is planned to be established
on 200 acres of land at Orange Grove, and is expected
to be partitioned into seven areas: Technology service,
horticulture, aquatic production, mini zoo, leisure and
recreation and commercial entertainment.
The agreement also covers collaboration between
the parties in training graduate students at the master
and doctoral levels, and work on the possibility of
the award of joint or doube degrees to the successful
candidates through a split-site engagement.
The December agreement was signed by Professor
K.E. Bingsheng, President of the China Agricultural
University and Professor Clement Sankat, Principal of
The UWI St. Augustine Campus.
Noor Hassanali on Campus
The Faculty of Law’s
auditorium at the St. Augustine Campus
was officially renamed “The Noor Hassanali Auditorium,” after
the second President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
(1987-1997) on January 20, 2015 at the Faculty of Law.
The decision to honour former President Hassanali’s storied
contribution to not onlyThe UWI, but also the history of Trinidad
and Tobago was cemented in June 2012 during an Academic
Board meeting. His widow, Zalayhar Hassanali unveiled the
commemorative plaque in the presence of the Dean of the Faculty
of Law, Rose-Marie Belle Antoine and Pro Vice-Chancellor and
Campus Principal, Professor Clement Sankat.
The WOW 2015 Seminar will take place on February
7 and feature presentations facilitated by Republic Bank
Limited. At this event, prizes will be awarded to students
who pay keen attention and are able to answer specific
questions on the presentations.
Students will also be given the opportunity to fine-tune
their interview skills with business professionals and obtain
valuable feedback at Mock Interviews. These interviews
continue on February 28 and March 14, at the UWI Sport
and Physical Education Centre (SPEC). This final session is
designed specifically for students of the Faculties of Social
Sciences, and Humanities and Education.
On March 19, the VIP Cocktail Reception will take
place. This will give students a chance to network effectively
by making connections and building enduring, mutually
beneficial relationships geared towards going beyond self-
promotion and fostering mentorship.
OnMarch 26 and 27, a Recruitment Fair will be held for
all returning students and final-year graduating students.
WOW– Preparing for the Interview
For more information, please call Student Advisory Services at 662-2002 ext. 82360.
