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April 2017
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He was, in one statement, emphasising both the adversity faced by the Caribbean, and the critical role that The UWI has to play in overcoming it. In his report, Professor Copeland spoke as more than a Campus Principal. His message was that of a regional thought leader on education, innovation and national development, and the measures he advocated went far beyond the boundaries of the St. Augustine Campus. “We must change our culture into one that is more innovative. We must increase the ability to develop small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for international markets. This really speaks to an agenda for our education system. It’s not just about teaching. It is about the kind of person that you are building, a person who is looking for opportunity and can go after it. Notice I haven’t spoken about The UWI. This is the education system.” Every year the four campuses of The UWI host a Campus Council meeting to present the annual and financial reports for the most recently completed period to the Council, the University’s governing body. The 2017 Campus Council for St. Augustine, held on March 20 at the Teaching and Learning Complex, was Professor Copeland’s first, having been appointed Campus Principal in April 2016. He was not timid in his presentation. The theme of the annual report for the St. Augustine Campus is “Engage” and Professor Copeland’s Campus Council report outlined an ambitious strategy for engagement with the society for sustainable growth, development and innovation. He pointed to the necessity for the society to implement the “Triple Helix” model – close collaboration between higher education, government and industry – to create an environment for innovative, foreign exchange-earning SMEs. In this new environment, the St. Augustine Campus would expand its remit beyond education, outreach and research to also include “aggressive revitalisation initiatives for the Caribbean.” Professor Copeland outlined four activities beginning this year to push his agenda forward. These include the establishment of a Centre for Export and Innovation to provide an ecosystem for innovation based export-oriented companies, curriculum and pedagogical reform, cultural renewal of the campus community and the creation of a Faculty of Sport, an idea first advanced by Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles. In his remarks, Sir Hilary said he fully endorsed the concept of engagement and it was in line with The UWI’s strategic goal of “Alignment” laid out in the University’s Strategic Plan 2017-2022. “We must engage all of our stakeholders and align our interests with theirs because we are here to serve,” Sir Hilary said. “Our regional university was built and funded to serve this region. And this is what we must always do with our full might.” The Vice-Chancellor also commended Professor Copeland for his service as Campus Principal during this challenging period of economic difficulty for the region and by extension the University. In his report on the 2015-2016 period, Professor Copeland outlined several efficiency and cost-cutting measures taken by the Campus to cope with the loss of 15% of its funding from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. He also spoke on St. Augustine’s many successes during the period: high-achieving students, new appointments and campus initiatives to better serve the national and regional communities. The Campus Principal provided statistics on student population, enrolment and graduation, as well as numbers related to financial performance. At Campus Council 2017 special mention was given to Professor Clement Sankat, who served as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of the St. Augustine Campus from 2008 to 2016. “I would like to place on record the Council’s appreciation for the sterling service and leadership provided by our former principal, Professor Clement Sankat,” said Campus Council Chairman Mr. Ewart Williams.
Campus Council 2017Professor Copeland outlined four activities beginning this year to push his agenda forward: a Centre for Export and Innovation to provide an ecosystem for innovation based export-oriented companies, curriculum and pedagogical reform, cultural renewal of the campus community and the creation of a Faculty of Sport.” Photos: ANEEL KARIM |
“Education is about survival,” said Professor Brian Copeland, Pro Vice-Chancellor and St. Augustine Campus Principal, as he reported to the 2017 Campus Council.