Financial Process Review Transformation of the Campus’ financial processes continued with the completion of Activity-based Costing (ABC) across all units and a new, more inclusive budget planning process is being refined. Revitalisation of the FMS is being pursued. Business plans that incorporate strategies for attracting foreign students were completed or are in the process of completion for three departments in the Faculty of Medical Sciences – Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing. Most significantly, a business plan for establishment of a new medical teaching facility at UWI St. Augustine South Campus, Penal-Debe (UWISC) has been completed. The new school will be part of an expanded network of sites as described later in this review. Curriculum and Pedagogical Reform (CPR) – The Academic Enterprise An Education Philosophy and an Academic Programme Process Map have been drafted to advance Curriculum & Pedagogical Reform (CPR). These two initiatives directly address the evolution of a much more effective and efficient academic enterprise. The process map will facilitate academic programme design and maintenance, and will help us better determine whether students are learning what they are supposed to know, as well as the readiness of our graduates to succeed. It will also allow us to clearly demonstrate the value for money invested in a UWI education. St. Augustine Special Initiatives The special initiatives of the Campus are also key to building a more resilient Campus. Two of these, in particular, represent a major expansion into central and south Trinidad and create the opportunity to establish a
Medical Education Artery , running from Mount Hope in the north, to Couva in central Trinidad, to Penal-Debe in the south. The Couva and Penal-Debe sites, provided for by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, have been in development for some time but have faced numerous and significant setbacks. Here indeed are true examples of perseverance in the face of pressure, as staff from across all arms of the Campus have risen to the occasion, ensuring that these two important ventures continue to progress to commissioning, and understanding that under the current circumstances, failure is simply not an option. In 2016, the Campus Projects Office (CPO) assumed oversight for the completion of the new UWISC, following the removal of the original contractor due to subpar work progress. Despite the spectre of an economic downturn, the Campus decided to complete the works at UWISC, but had to revise the projected completion date on several occasions, given the myriad of construction challenges involved in restarting a project of this magnitude, one that had been dormant for so long, and in light of increases in labour and material costs. Happily, the Campus is now going through the last of these challenges and in mid-2019 it sought approval from the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) to expand its programme offerings to the UWISC. This expansion is an opportunity for The UWI to increase access, consistent with the Triple A Strategic Plan . The ACTT granted approval for the delivery of programmes from the Faculties of Humanities & Education, Medical Sciences, Food & Agriculture, and Science & Technology. In addition to the aforementioned Faculty offerings, the
UWI subsidiary, UWI-ROYTEC, will relocate its southern operations from its current base in San Fernando to the Penal-Debe site and will offer a suite of management and education programmes. As such, beginning in the 2020/2021 academic year, it is anticipated that UWI St. Augustine will welcome a first cohort of 600 students to the Penal-Debe site. The Couva Medical and Multi-Training Facility Limited (“CMMFL”) is a Special Purpose Company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in July 2018, with a broad remit to facilitate the operationalisation of the Couva Hospital and Multi- Training Facility. The Board of the CMMFL currently comprises representatives of The University of the West Indies and the Ministries of Health and Finance acting on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Hospital will be run by the Government as a modern, innovative, and information-technology driven medical facility. The training facility has been leased to The UWI FMS to house the Schools of Optometry, Pharmacy and Nursing. Perseverance A character of grit and perseverance is absolutely required for building the level of resilience and resolve needed to survive and thrive in these difficult times. Our Campus community has undoubtedly shown its capacity to persevere. Contrary to the widely held notion by many over the years, the St. Augustine Campus is “a real place”, not an ivory tower, insulated or isolated from the challenges facing those we serve. We accept the challenge of proving our resilience, not merely for the sake of The UWI as an institution, but also for the sake of the region it serves.
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