Vice-Chancellor’s Report
ACCESS
The UWI Five Islands: A 21 st Century, Fit-for-Purpose Campus
radically upscale the professional training system for development.
In June 2019, the University Council’s approval for the establishment of a campus in Antigua and Barbuda was announced. The intent of the new campus is to serve the development agendas of the OECS, contributing to the development of the higher education and professional training sectors. In recent years, the countries of the OECS have registered some of the highest economic growth rates in the region. However, they have also recorded the lowest rates of enrolment in tertiary education, reflected in high youth unemployment rates. The UWI Five Islands provides an opportunity for corrective action through the establishment of a 21 st century, fit-for-purpose campus , with a focus on the robust expansion of the region’s social capital. The new campus presents citizens of the OECS with new opportunities to access higher education at a lower cost, and a mechanism to enhance the academic culture and
Exploring Opportunities for UWI Global Online In the context of its Triple A Strategy , an enhanced digital presence is The UWI’s primary means of exponentially increasing its enrolment to meet its target of 65,000 by 2022. The University is working on a strategy and creating the enabling operational environment to steer it rapidly into the global online market, while maintaining its commitment to serving and expanding regional access to online programmes. Through a single, unified, global online presence— UWI Global Online —The UWI will seek to capture a share of the lucrative international e-learning market by extending specially tailored online offerings to targeted locations globally. In preparation for this global online initiative, to be launched in academic year 2020/2021, the University is currently reviewing and rationalising its online framework to ensure that it results in an operating model that adequately supports both regional and global strategies.
Cognisant of the expectations and responsibilities placed on it as the region’s number one ranked higher education institution, The UWI seeks modern, cost- effective and efficient means to extend its reach, granting access not just to participating Caribbean territories but to communities and partners across the world. The UWI continues to restructure and re- engineer itself, its systems, operations and ideologies, transforming itself from a multi-campus academy into a 21 st century university system. Standing upon the Access pillar, The UWI is becoming a university for all, the first choice for alumni and non- alumni who seek its products and services. Its teaching, learning and student improvement are constantly evolving, while the quality, quantity and impact of its research, innovation and publication add to its respect and recognition among the best universities in the world.
The UWI Office of Online Learning, led by Mrs. Pauline Cobley, is spearheading this initiative.
Expanding our Global Footprint The UWI continues to stride into the 21 st century, increasing its reach beyond the region, and offering world-class educational opportunities in more countries through its partnerships and global centres. During the reporting period, several new partnerships were forged.
The UWI Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda
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