March 2013


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Foresight on hindsight

“Following the approval of The UWI Strategic Plan 2012-2017 by the University Council in April 2012, each UWI Campus developed an Operational Plan to support the achievement of the regional university’s strategic vision to be a globally recognized, regionally integrated, innovative and internationally competitive university deeply rooted in all aspects of Caribbean development.”

These are among the opening words of the Principal’s Review which sets out the framework for the Annual Report for the St Augustine Campus of The UWI, which was presented at the Campus Council meeting on March 26 for review. The Report offers a comprehensive look at the activities for the period from 2011 to 2012 and points to the path that has since been taken.

“This last strategic planning period (2007-2012) has seen an ongoing transformation of The UWI St Augustine Campus. The Campus has grown from some 15,000 students and 1,700 staff members in 2007 to one that today supports more than 19,000 students and 3,000 staff members daily.

“It is, however, in the area of postgraduate studies that there has been the most dramatic change. Postgraduate students increased by 57% over the period (2007-2012) helping to solidify our position as the leading tertiary institution in the country, particularly for taught Masters and research programmes. The fact that two out of every three students, enrolled in our postgraduate programmes, are graduates of undergraduate programmes from UWI St. Augustine is testament to the confidence students continue to place in the quality of our education,” wrote Principal Clement Sankat.

Chair of the Campus Council, Mr Ewart Williams noted that the period “also saw an impressive expansion in both graduate and undergraduate programmes. Moreover, several of the new programmes were devised in conjunction with industry partners – demonstrating our intention to ensure relevance to market needs.”

Also presented at the Council meeting was the Faculty Report, which provides more detailed accounting for the activities, accomplishments and plans for each: Engineering, Food and Agriculture, Humanities and Education, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, and Social Sciences, as well as the Centres and Institutes over that period.