18
UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 3rd may, 2015
Nursing and Allied Health
. This is the county’s first public facility dedicated exclusively to
the education of nurses.
This in itself has been amilestone achievement; one that presents
themodel of a strategic partnership betweenThe UWI and a key stakeholder (Government
of T &T) to expedite a response to addressing a pressing societal need.
As many other higher educational institutions throughout the world has done,
The UWI St. Augustine Campus, has applied an integrated technology into the rubric
of
‘Futurizing’ our Teaching and Learning.
To accomplish this,
the Blended Learning
team (as they are referred to) conducted
26 workshops - a 40% increase
over the previous
reporting year, and 21 blended learning clinics which represents an exponential increase
from 5 clinics in the previous year. Two pilot programmes were implemented, namely, the
Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management and the Diploma in Management of HIV
Infection. These inaugural steps would certainly pave the way for the adaption of many
other applicable programmes offered at The UWI. It will also ensure a reliable and effective
approach to expanding our resources tomeet the growing numbers in student enrolment
at the St. Augustine Campus. Initiatives such as these further reinforce our primary focus
to continuously enhance the educational curriculum and journey, and by extension the
entire experience for both our students and academic staff. The role of our students at
one stage being compared to vital cogs in the process, but inevitably, at another stage,
being transitioned as products of the process themselves; a process that has been refined
by constant vigilance, attention and innovation over the years.
Student Engagement, Development & Outreach
In any world-rated higher education institution, it is paramount to recognize and
treat with in a deliberate, definitive and comprehensivemanner, a student service support
system that provides a coordinated timely response to Student needs. This is being realized
through the Deputy Principal’s implementation of the changemanagement process for the
integration and expansion of the student services system on a whole, at the St. Augustine
Campus. This is currently a work in progress. The restructuring process will allow for a
coordinated response to student needs. Specific attention to these needs will influence
and determine the success of our pupils and unescapably the overall value of our higher
learning institution; where both components are inextricably linked.
The Smart Start programme, Co-curricular courses and the EntrepreneurshipBoot
Camp
are just a couple examples of unique programmes our Campus continue to offer
for the development of our students. The
‘Smart start programme’
is the latest initiative
introduced by Student Advisory Services in collaborationwith the Admissions Department.
It is a pre-orientation programme to assist nationals who have applied to The University
of theWest Indies to get to know the institution to which they have applied. The physical,
social and academic environment here at The UWI, for many prospective students can
appear to be intimidating, in comparison to what they have been accustomed with in
high school. This orientation brings clarity and a more in-depth understanding of the
many areas of study available to them. It has proven to be a successful tool in taking
students through the decision making exercise, while finalizing their choice of a higher
level educational institution.
The Co-curricular programmes in particular
has seen a 43% increase in student
enrolment withmore than 1,000 students enrolled in these programmes for the academic
year under review. This is indeed testimony to the value of demonstrating attentiveness
to the needs of our students. Providing the correct advice and guidance to our students
goes a very long way. This approach is intrinsic in our ideology at The UWI St. Augustine
Campus, to foster a conducive environment for learning.
The Entrepreneurship Boot Camp initiative
is continuously proving its value,
established as a result of a strategic partnership between The UWI, the National
Entrepreneurship Development Company (NEDCO) and the Entrepreneurial Training
Institute and Incubation Centre (ETIIC). Forging strategic partnerships is pivotal in being
able to grow our resources, enhance our capabilities and create relevance and impact in
the external worlds of business and industry among other areas.
We as a university must always find ways to demonstrate our significance and
encourage symbiotic arrangements that bring satisfaction and benefits to all our
contributing stakeholders. The UWI moved closer to accomplishing this goal by further
engaging the private sector, as we signed an
MOUwith ANSAMcAL Limited
to construct
the Anthony N. Sabga Building. A building to be located at The UWI St. Augustine Campus
which will be dedicated in the first instance to housing the Guardian Media School
of Journalism, the Anthony N. Sabga School of Entrepreneurship and the ANSA McAL
Psychological Research Centre. The mutual benefits derived from this project will bolster
our knowledge base and strengthen our ties with the business sector. More importantly, it
will open new doors and opportunities, as we further develop this model of Private Sector,
higher education, and commercialization.
The name
ROYTEC
has become a household one in Trinidad and Tobago when one
thinks of higher education.
This well-known educational brand has now been given by
RBC Financial (Caribbean) Limited to The UWI St Augustine Campus
. This established
Trademark Assignment, will now form part of the many reputable programmes offered at
The UWI St. Augustine Campus. The benefits of this new arrangement will be enormous, as
we at The UWI will continue to show our commitment, as we build on the already strong
foundation of ROYTEC, as we create new avenues for the School. Our underlying intention
would be tomake it evenmore relevant and responsive, with newprogrammes that would
extend important services to the people of our country and region.
Another exciting project to look forward to is the
expansion of The UWI Arthur
Lok Jack Graduate School of Business (UWI-ALJGSB)
. This institution has over the years
established itself as the leading school of graduate level management studies in this region.
Being already strategically placed, the expansionwill see the occupation of land at the back
of the campus at Mt. Hope, where a two story building comprising over 28,000 sq. ft. will
be erected. This has become necessary because of the rapid growth of the programmes
being offered in response to the escalating student demands.
Over the recent years the St. Augustine campus has seen a considerable increase in
hosting visitors; individuals and groups; some coming from as far as China, the Middle East
and Europe. The St. Augustine Campus Enterprises Co. Ltd. (SACEL):
currently has under
Entrepreneurship Boot Camp winners: From left: Sean Aberdeen, Timothy McIntosh,
4th place winner Richard Chase and Terrance Glenn
Mr. A. Norman Sabga – Chairman and Chief Executive of the ANSA McAL Group of Companies (left)
and Mr. Grenfell Kissoon- Chairman of Guardian Media Ltd. (right) look on as Mr. Anthony N Sabga
LLD (h.c.) – ANSA McAL’s Chairman Emeritus and Professor Sankat sign the MOU for the construction
of the Anthony N. Sabga School of Entrepreneurship and the Guardian Media School of Journalism.
Principal Sankat receives ROYTEC Trade Name fromMr. Suresh Sookoo, CEO, Caribbean Banking,
RBC as Campus Registrar, Mr Richard Saunders looks on.
