4
UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 23 APRIL, 2017
CAMPUS NEWS
Meeting Adversity with Engagement
B Y J O E L H E N R Y
“Education is about survival,”
said Professor Brian
Copeland, Pro Vice-Chancellor and St. Augustine Campus
Principal, as he reported to the 2017 Campus Council.
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
andmedium 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 aboutThe 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 onMarch 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
Professor 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
.
PHOTO: ANEEL KARIM
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 fromtheGovernment of Trinidad andTobago.
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 Chairman Mr. Ewart Williams, second from left, leads the discussion.
CAMPUS
COUNCIL
2017
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal Professor Brian Copeland
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles addresses the Council
as Deputy Principal Professor Rhoda Reddock looks on
