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UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2019
This year’s Biennial Conference of the
three UWI Campuses
– St Augustine, Cave
Hill and Mona – will be held at the School
of Education, St Augustine Campus from
February 19 to 21 2019. Titled “Education
Beyond Borders: Breaking Barriers, Building
Bridges”, the conference promises to inspire
participants with new ideas for addressing
persistent challenges in teaching and learning
across all levels.
Participants will benefit tremendously
from the expertise of our three high-profile
keynote speakers: Professor Donna Mertens
(Washington DC – Mixed Methods and
Transformative Research), Dr Canute
Thompson (Mona, Jamaica – Caribbean
Leadership) andProfessor PatriciaMohammed
(UWI St Augustine – Gender and Cultural
Studies).
Additionally, delegates will have the opportunity to choose from over 150 individual
presentations by local, regional and international researchers from Europe, the United
States of America, Canada and the Caribbean. Research themes are diverse and include
presentations on Technology, Partnerships in Education, Green Education, Inclusion,
Health and Wellness, and Early Education. There will also be over 25 poster presentations,
round-table discussions, a visual arts display and workshops on topics such as Robotics,
the Project Approach and STEM, as well as Mixed Methods Research.
Faculty and staff at the UWI School of Education in Trinidad are preparing to welcome a
strong contingent of researchers from the School of Education at Mona, Jamaica led by their
Director, Professor Disraeli Hutton. We are also anticipating the arrival of the Director of
the School of Education at UWI’s Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, Professor Joel Warrican,
and faculty members. Participants from local universities as well as graduate students,
administrators, teachers and parents will also be attending.
Our Principal, Professor Brian Copeland, will be among the distinguished invitees who
will deliver opening remarks.The opening ceremony will include remarks from educational
stakeholders from Trinidad and Tobago as well as our sponsor UNESCO.
We will also treat delegates to aspects of our cultural heritage during the opening
and closing ceremonies. There will be opportunities for eco and cultural tours across our
beautiful island. Persons interested in new developments in education should attend the
“Education Beyond Borders” Conference at the UWI St Augustine Campus carded for
February 19 to 21 2019.
CAMPUS NEWS
“I was a kind of shy, quiet student,”
says
Shanta Seepersad, a 22-year-old in the
final year of her BSc in Leadership and
Management at UWI, “but my speaking
skills came out in the debate.”
Indeed they did. Shanta, who
also completed a minor in Political
Science, was selected by the Political
Science Department to represent the
University at the 16
th
National Youth
Parliament (NYP) on November 12
2018. She overcame almost all opposition
and placed third in a debate on the
decriminalisation of marijuana.
“I was surprised and extremely
happy,” Shanta says of her debate
performance. “I am glad that I was able
to represent the University well andmake
my family and friends happy.”
The National Youth Parliament, held
at the Office of the Parliament, Tower
D of the Port of Spain International
Waterfront Centre, brings together
young people from schools and other
institutions. They take on government
portfolios as youth parliamentarians. NYP is hosted by the Executive Committee of
the Local Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Shanta’s portfolio was Minister of Education andMember of Parliament for Arima.
Her experiences as a political science student and youth parliamentarian have awakened
her interest in politics.
“I fell in love with political science,” she says, attributing the ability to overcome
her natural shyness to her strong affinity for the subject. “I have to be passionate about
the topic. Once I enjoy doing it, it brings out that spark in me.”
Shanta’s plan is to pursue her master’s degree in political science for the upcoming
academic year. Long term she would like to get into active politics.
She says, “People are very disenchanted with both political parties. They want
change. They want new minds, new people. And there is a lot to be fixed and changed
(in T&T)”.
However, she is very aware of the fickle nature of politics and is intent on pursuing
a stable career until the time is right to make a potential move into the field. For now,
Shanta is pleased that she has found her calling and is grateful to the Department of
Social Sciences for the opportunity to represent UWI at the National Youth Parliament.
SHANTA
Finds Her Voice
Shanta Seepersad debating the decriminalisation
of marijuana as Minister of Education and
Member of Parliament for Arima.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF THE PARLIAMENT.
St Augustine Hosts Education
“Beyond Borders”
Conference
B Y D R S A B E E R A H A B D U L - M A J I E D
The story of Ken Julien is the story of Trinidad and Tobago.
This was one of the themes presented by UWI St Augustine Campus Principal
Professor Brian Copeland speaking at a conference held to honour Professor
Julien on his 86
th
birthday.
Julien, Chairman of the University of Trinidad and Tobago [UTT], is a pioneer
in West Indian engineering, a major contributor to the growth of UWI, and one
of the architects of the country’s energy sector-driven development. In 2003, he
received the Trinity Cross, the highest honour in the country at the time.
The Professor Kenneth S. Julien Festschrift Conference, hosted by the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), brought together leaders
from the energy industry, heavy industry, manufacturing, education, economics,
telecommunications and politics, to pay tribute to one of the nation’s most
influential citizens. Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Keith Rowley,
in a moving message of appreciation, called Professor Julien “one of the most
distinguished citizens of Trinidad and Tobago”.
Speaking on the topic of Julien’s impact on education at the November 26
2018 conference, Copeland focused on the Professor’s holistic vision of national
development and nation building.
“His rise as an educator, scholar and innovator helped in no small way to
Professor CopelandPays Tribute at Ken JulienFestschriftConference
fuel the development of our independent republic,” said
Copeland to the conference participants at the Hyatt
Regency Trinidad.
Copeland, himself an engineer, recounted his
experiences as a student under Professor Julien and as an
administrator at UWI.
“The powerhouse under his cool exterior first became
evident at our hand-over meeting on his retirement as
Head of (the) Department of (Electrical Engineering),
when he provided advice in the following words: ‘Brian,
let no one run this department but you’. Those words
grounded in me an appreciation for the responsibility of
leadership that I use to this day,” remarked Copeland.
Ken Julien was one of the first West Indians to join the newly created Faculty of
Engineering at the then fledgling UWI. He became the first Dean of the Faculty from
the region, and led it through its difficult early phase from 1964 to 1974, laying the
foundation for its eventual massive expansion.
Professor Copeland’s entire speech is available at
