Looking AHEAD
D uring the 2021/2022 academic year the Campus invested in growing an entrepreneurial culture across the organisation, digitalisation of processes at all levels, measurement and data collection, and overall process improvement. As the Campus joins the rest of The University in embarking on phase two of its Triple-A Strategic Plan (2022–2027), focused on The Revenue Revolution, it is important to note the shift from Revitalising Caribbean Development through the thematic areas—Access, Alignment and Agility—to now Converting Reputation to Revenue as the new mandate. The directive from the Vice-Chancellor is that “we have to grow ourselves out of the current financial situation.” This second phase of the strategic plan for The University is based on five planks: 1. A multi-lingual culture in which all graduates going forward will be foreign language proficient at least within our hemisphere. 2. The entrepreneurial identity by which we will pursue a greater share of our resources in the private market while attaining even greater efficiency in our operations. 3. The institutionalisation of our global reputation as a lead university in climate-smart research and advocacy to provide even greater service to the region. 4. Advancement of the digital transformation of The University to strengthen our internal efficiency and energise Caribbean economic transformation and economic development. 5. The rollout of UWI Global online as the international portal for distributing and accessing commercially marketed academic programmes.
As a new day dawns, the St Augustine Campus will seek to operationalise companies formed to monetise our patented products, and ensure that innovation and entrepreneurship are by-products of quality research; incentivise and provide mentorship to entrepreneurs and start-ups from among staff and students and seek investment partners while more actively supporting the developmental agenda and priorities of government. The key campus projects are: • Boosting international student recruitment–starting with the creation of a Global School of Medicine, building on the sterling reputation of our Faculty of Medical Sciences. • The creation of the UWI Fine Cocoa Products Limited aimed at rejuvenating the cocoa sector and showcasing the quality indigenous cocoa of the country. • An Alumni Giving Project. These largescale projects are supplemented by a number of other entrepreneurial initiatives at the departmental level. All will require different levels of investment, and all have the potential to set the Campus on a new course for continued growth and greater self-sufficiency.
In the words of the new Campus Principal, “It will not be easy, but do it we can, and must.”
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