“I invite you to bring your energy, your creativity, and innovative thinking to the university table,” said UWI St Augustine Campus Principal Brian Copeland to a gathering of professionals and graduates.

He was speaking on the evening of Tuesday, June 14 at an event hosted by the campus to engage and excite attendees with the possibilities available to further their education at UWI St Augustine. Titled the “The Postgraduate Experience”, this information session/cocktail event, the campus’s first in-person event in two years, gave attendees a chance for face-to-face interaction with its educators, scholars, student services providers, administrators, and graduate students.

“Your presence here today shows that you are interested in taking that next step in advancing your education and your career,” said Ms Kristy Smith, Manager of Financial Advisory Services at UWI St Augustine and master of ceremonies for the event. “Your presence here tells us that you are ready to make yourself stand out in the job market.”

The Postgraduate Experience was held at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre and gave attendees opportunities to visit faculty booths, take part in question and answer sessions, and enjoy direct engagement with members of the campus community. A special highlight of the event was the testimonials by several graduate students, who spoke on their experience and the personnel and professional benefits that attending The UWI has brought to their lives.

Ronald Francis, a graduate student and part-time lecturer at the Department of Language and Linguistics described his time at The UWI by saying, “I realised as soon as I got to the St Augustine Campus that it was a place to grow not just academically but holistically as a person as well.”

Apart from the students, deans, deputy deans, Campus Executive Management, Graduate Studies staff, members of the Student Guild, and researchers that were on hand, Republic Bank, the campus’s financial partner was also present to inform the prospective students about options for financing their education.

Recognising the importance of reassuring students about the affordability of their graduate programmes and the urgency of the investment, Professor Copeland said, “we have brought a power team here to guide you on financing, as well as on the bursaries and scholarships available to full-time registered postgraduate students – locally, regionally, and internationally.”

He added, “Don’t allow finance to be a stumbling block for your progress. Look at this as an investment in the next you!”

The Postgraduate Experience is one of several events hosted to expose potential students to the benefits of pursuing their education at UWI St Augustine. In May, the campus held its Virtual Open Day. On July 8 to today, Sunday July 10, they are hosting UWI Open Days on campus.