SUNDAY 14 OCTOBER, 2018 – UWI TODAY
3
EDITORIAL TEAM
CAMPUS PRINCIPAL
Professor Brian Copeland
AG. DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
AND COMMUNICATIONS
Wynell Gregorio
AG. EDITOR
Shereen Ann Ali
email:
CONTACT US
The UWI Marketing and
Communications Office
Tel: (868) 662-2002, exts. 82013 / 83997
or email:
UWI TODAY GUEST EDITORIAL
Although the new academic year
is already in
progress, let me officially say welcome to all new
and returning local, regional, and international
undergraduate and postgraduate students. I trust
that this will be another successful year at the
Caribbean region’s premier tertiary institution,
where some of the most influential minds have
studied, taught and researched for seven decades.
As Deputy Campus Principal, with special
responsibility for students, I am always conscious
of the fact that one of the main roles of the
University is to produce ideal UWI graduates.
The UWI seeks to nurture students who will one
day add to the efforts to revitalize Caribbean
development. Achieving this demands that great
thought and effort go into developing student-
centred programmes and activities that are not
merely qualification-centred. Overall, The UWI
aims to build and expand initiatives that develop
versatile, skilled, capable, and well-rounded
students. The main focus is to guide students
along the path to becoming distinctive graduates.
This begins in their first semester through to their
last day as a UWI St Augustine student.
In academic year 2018/2019, this campus
cont inues it s student development and
preparation thrust, spearheaded by the Division
of Student Services and Development. At this
stage of their academic journey, new students
need extra guidance to make a smooth transition
to university life. They also need to be oriented
on the pathway to academic success. To do this,
at the beginning of this semester, new students
received a grand welcome with a number of
activities aimed at helping to create a sense of
belonging to this university and campus, and
to build camaraderie. Among other events, the
highly anticipated 2018/2019 cycle of the First
Year Experience Programme was launched. Over
the course of the academic year, new students
will be exposed to specifically designed activities
that will not only help their transition, but also
set the foundation for developing the attributes
of an ideal UWI graduate.
As students advance from their first year to
their second and third years of study, there is
an ongoing focus on their holistic development.
Continuing students are encouraged to learn
a language; join a club; participate in co-
curricular courses; volunteer; seek community
engagement opportunities; and contribute to
community service learning. There are good
reasons for this: co-curricular courses foster a
range of important life skills that align with the
characteristics of a distinctive UWI graduate;
volunteer and community engagement activities
impart an increased sense of civic responsibility,
and social justice; and service learning promotes
the application of scholarship, and learning
through service to others. These activities
empower students, expose their ability to grow,
and facilitate social improvement and change.
The World of Work (WOW) programme
is a thriving initiative that is very much in
demand by prospective graduates. WOW
has proven to be invaluable to our final year
students.The main programme objective goes far
beyond connecting employers with prospective
employees. Each activity (the seminars, mock
interviews, resume writing sessions, speed
networking) is meticulously designed to ensure
that before they graduate, each final year student
is given an opportunity to be equipped with the
foundational skills and tools to secure gainful
employment, and for the duration of their careers.
These challenging economic times have created a
tough job market. Now, more than ever, students
will need to become graduates who are the best
candidate for the jobs that are available.
I believe that the launch of the 2018/2019
cycle of the WOW programme convinced
students that this year’s programme will surpass
their expectations. One memorable moment
was when Mr Jerome Precilla shared his insights
on entrepreneurship. This feature address
aligned perfectly with the projected vision for
the university, this campus, and our graduates.
In addition to outlining the goal of creating an
entrepreneurial university, the Triple A Strategic
Plan 2017-2022 describes “entrepreneurial” as
a key attribute of distinctive UWI graduates.
Hopefully, after hearing that presentation, more of
our graduates will begin to see entrepreneurship
as a viable career option rather than a last resort.
This campus couldnot have possiblyorganised
and launched another successful year of theWOW
programme without the support of one faithful
corporate sponsor. For yet another year, Republic
Bank Limited agreed to be the title sponsor of the
WOW Programme. This corporate partner has
displayed its enduring commitment to corporate
social responsibility by supporting this campus in
various ways. The UWI, St Augustine campus is
most grateful to have a longstanding relationship
with this organisation, and to partner in this
particular endeavour once again.
We are actively implementing measures to
ensure that every October, all graduates who leave
the UWI, are poised to positively transform the
region, and the world. If they are to do so, we need
them to be critical and creative thinkers; effective
communicators; IT-skilled and information
literate; innovative and entrepreneurial; globally
aware and well-grounded in his/her regional
identity; socially, culturally and environmentally
responsible; and guided by strong ethical values.
I believe that we are well on our way.
By
Professor Indar Ramnarine
, Deputy Campus Principal
Prof. Ramnarine
is a Professor of Applied Ichthyology (Fisheries and Aquaculture).
He began his term as Deputy Principal at the St Augustine Campus in August 2017
Students poised to
TRANSFORMTHEREGION
