UWI St Augustine and leading Caribbean conglomerate ANSA McAL have strengthened their partnership to endorse “a shared commitment to cooperate in talent acquisition, employer branding, academic collaboration, student development, professional training and research,” the campus has revealed in a statement to the press.
The two organisations signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in December 2025 at a ceremony held at the Office of the Campus Principal. Both institutions, the statement says, see the partnership as a strategic investment in the future of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean, aligning with a mission to strengthen the region’s workforce and broaden opportunities for its people.
Calling the MOU a “significant step toward deepening industry-academic collaboration,” UWI St Augustine believes the agreement sets the stage for expanded joint initiatives that support talent development and innovation, to foster national and regional advancement. This initiative bolsters an already successful relationship between campus and conglomerate.
“The partnership between The UWI St. Augustine Campus and ANSA McAL spans approximately 15 years and has remained resilient through major socio-economic and environmental shifts,” the campus said. “It has provided numerous internships, employment opportunities, placements within the ANSA McAL Group, and the development of specialised training programmes, standing as a model of impactful and enduring university-industry engagement.”
ANSA McAL’s involvement with The UWI continues to evolve as industries transform, especially in response to changing workplace expectations and graduate competencies in the post-pandemic era. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics have reinforced the value of this long-standing relationship.
Speaking at the signing, Ms Amy Lazzari, Chief People and Culture Officer of ANSA McAL said that, “Through this collaboration, we gain direct access to one of the region’s most influential academic institutions. It accelerates our ability to build robust talent pipelines for critical roles and enhance our employer brand on campus. Beyond talent acquisition, this partnership reinforces our core purpose of ‘Inspiring Better Choices for a Better World’, and represents the future of our region.”
This partnership has grown steadily, from early requests for data entry clerks to a wide range of vacation and graduate internships, entry-level positions, and the distinctive ANSA McAL Champions Programme. Increasing engagements with The UWI’s prestigious alumni network further signal ANSA McAL’s confidence in the hallmark attributes of UWI graduates.
Both organisations committed to revisiting and strengthening the relationship through the establishment of a formal MOU. After productive discussions led by UWI’s St Augustine’s Office of the Deputy Principal, the agreement has now been signed.
Deputy Principal Professor Derek Chadee said, “We are proud to work in partnership with forward-thinking institutions such as the ANSA McAL Group and recognise the value of leveraging our collective strengths in driving transformative change across the Caribbean. Ultimately this partnership aims to enhance academic excellence and research, and we thank ANSA McAL for the confidence and the opportunity in creating meaningful opportunities for students and the workforce.”
The campus believes the signing “marks a new beginning. Both The UWI St Augustine Campus and ANSA McAL anticipate that this MOU will serve as a platform for expanded initiatives, deeper cooperation, and more collaborations in the years ahead.”
