TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION RANKING LANDMARK “TRIPLE FIRST” RANKING
In 2019, Vice-Chancellor Beckles indicated the intention of the University “to be located in the top 3% of ranked universities by the end of the current strategic planning cycle in 2023”. Referencing an energetic and proactive leadership team of campus principals, pro vice- chancellors, multi-layered administrators and academics, research professors and student leaders, the Vice- Chancellor expressed confidence in the team’s ability to remove doubt from the institution in respect of its capacity to break new ground. Then just short of a year later, on Friday, July 17, 2020, Vice-Chancellor Beckles declared a resounding surpassing of this target by the Caribbean’s leading university, as Times Higher Education (THE), the globally recognised and most prestigious ranking agency for higher education, announced its 2020 rankings, and The UWI secured top spots on its three latest lists— Latin America University Rankings , Golden Age University Rankings , and Impact Rankings. “Triple Firsts”, as coined by Vice-Chancellor Beckles, marked “The UWI’s breaking into the top 1% of universities in the Latin American and Caribbean region; the top 1% of Golden Age universities—i.e. the category of global universities between 50 and 80 years old; and retention of its number one position as the only Caribbean University to be ranked.”
Vice-Chancellor offered special commendation to the entire UWI community, recognising “the tremendous work being done university-system-wide to meet the Triple A targets, which has not only driven overall productivity, but has stirred an upsurge in engagement and brand reputation regionally, internationally and in scholastic advocacy on multiple issues of global significance”. He concluded, “In spite of this year’s myriad challenges for the Caribbean community and the wider world, our University has had some high moments, signalling our strength and the success of our strategic plan and efforts. This is yet another of The UWI’s finest hours.”
“This remarkable achievement puts The UWI in an elite band,” Vice-Chancellor Beckles said. “We are elite, but not elitist.” He went on explain that “the magnitude of this achievement is further contextualised within a landscape comprised of at least 209 Caribbean-based higher education institutions, an approximate 5,497 universities within Latin America and the Caribbean, and over 30,000 universities registered worldwide.” In 2016, when Vice-Chancellor Beckles conceived and began rolling out the strategic plan together with The UWI’s leadership, he set an immediate objective to radically upgrade and globalise the regional University’s reputation and enhance its international visibility and competitiveness. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, and Professor Densil Williams, Pro Vice- Chancellor, Planning at the virtual event, Recognising Our Triple Firsts , on Friday, July 17, 2020.
“Triple Firsts”, as coined byVice- Chancellor Beckles, marked“The UWI’s breaking into the top 1%of universities in the LatinAmerican and Caribbean region; the top 1% of GoldenAge universities—i.e. the category of global universities between 50 and 80 years old; and retention of its number one position as the only CaribbeanUniversity to be ranked.”
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