Vice-Chancellor's Report to University Council 2018/2019

HUGH WYNTER FERTILITY MANAGEMENT UNIT (HWFMU) The HWFMU continued to make strides to improve its four, interconnected areas of focus— Clinical Services , Training , Research and Outreach . In 2018/2019 the HWFMU forged strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships for training in minimally invasive gynaecologic surgeries and assisted reproductive technology. Sponsors and partners in this initiative included: the Caribbean Association of Gynaecologic Endoscopic Surgeons (CAGES), International Society for Gynaecologic Endoscopy (ISGE), Ferring Pharmaceuticals, and Roche Diagnostics – Central America and the Caribbean. These partnerships have made significant contributions in upgrading the skills and knowledge of obstetricians/gynaecologists across the Caribbean in hysteroscopic, laparoscopic and assisted reproductive technology. Addressing the growing levels of infertility in Jamaica, the HWFMU also signed an agreement with JMMB Bank in April 2019 to provide up to JA$ 5 million in loan financing to patients accessing the Unit’s infertility treatments and related services. This agreement led to the offering of an unsecured maternity loan, the first of its kind in the Jamaican financial sector .

SIR ARTHUR LEWIS INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL & ECONOMIC STUDIES (SALISES) Among the highlights for SALISES in the period under review were: • The conversion of the current MSc Development Studies Programme to online delivery mode, increasing access to postgraduate education opportunities.

Collaboration with external stakeholders as part of strengthening academic- industry alignment; including key partnerships with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for conferences and forums on critical Caribbean regional issues. The launch of The UWI-Global Belt and Road Research Network dedicated to research the implications of China’s Belt and Road Initiatives from the vantage point of the Caribbean and global South – in keeping with the institutional Agility required given current global power shifts.

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