AGILITY Enrolment
Restructuring and Streamlining of Services The reorganisation of units and departments in support of the Triple A goals of Access, Alignment and Agility promoted in the 2017-2022 Strategic Plan has been ongoing during the year under review and has resulted in the creation of one new unit and the restructuring and amalgamation of three departments respectively. The new unit—Enterprise System Support Unit (ESSU) seeks primarily to optimise Campus administrative processes, while the restructured Office of Planning and Projects into the Office of Institutional Planning and Infrastructural Services (INPLAIS), which now incorporates the Campus Quality Assurance Unit, is designed to bring a more coordinated and integrated approach to the functions of institutional research, planning, development, operations and management of the Campus’ facilities. In addition, given the close linkages, the Office Public Information and the Office of Recruitment and Marketing have been merged into the Office of Marketing and Communications. The Education Media Services (EMS) Unit has also been absorbed into this Office. The ongoing reorganisation of service units in particular symbolises the Campus’ commitment to improving internal operating processes and is expected to result in heightened service delivery, greater efficiency and the institutionalisation of key processes, better data analysis and forecasting, advancing the Smart Campus Initiative, and preparing the Campus to receive more regional and international students.
Rolling Enrolment For the first time in its operations, the Campus is set to introduce rolling enrolment and admission for some faculties. This means that while all new students will be accepted in August/September, some will actually begin studies in the second semester, which starts in January. This initiative is influenced by two factors, namely, the heavy demand in some programmes and the number of teaching spaces available for scheduling classes. The success of rolling enrolment is dependent on optimised timetabling, which is being managed by the Timetabling Committee in collaboration with the Enterprise Systems Support Unit (ESSU) and Campus management. Graduation Performance During the Campus’ graduation exercises held on October 19, 2019, a total of 1,258 students were awarded degrees. Nine hundred and sixteen (916) students were awarded undergraduate degrees, with 10 medical students receiving distinctions and honours, 126 receiving First Class honours, 319 Upper Second Class honours, 290 Lower Second Class honours, and 171 Pass degrees. At the graduate level, 342 students received higher degrees, including 22 who were awarded doctoral degrees. At its 2019 graduation ceremony, the Campus welcomed three honorary graduates into its community—Mr. Stedson “Red Plastic Bag”Wiltshire (Doctor of Letters) for his contribution to entertainment; Ms. Maxine Williams (Doctor of Laws) for outstanding leadership and global achievements and Mr. Alan Emtage (Doctor of Science) for his sterling commitment to scientific invention.
Student enrolment increased for the second time in six years, largely due to the decision of the Barbados Government to resume the payment of tuition fees for Barbadian students. As at October 1, 2019, there was a total of 6,000 students—5,212 undergraduates and 788 postgraduates, representing an increase of 11.5% over last year’s figures. Women continued to dominate registration at 66% of total registered students with men representing 34%. An 8% increase was recorded in the number of Barbadian students registered, which rose to 80% from 72% in the previous year. The Faculty of Humanities and Education enjoyed a 29% increase at the graduate level and an 18% increase at the undergraduate level. Sports enjoyed a 183% increase at the graduate level, due to the provision of government support for 12 postgraduate scholarships, while Law enjoyed an 81% increase in graduate students. Enrolment in Gender Studies declined at the graduate level as did enrolment in Medical Sciences at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. It should be noted, however, that student numbers in Medical Sciences are closely monitored and influenced by quotas. Social Sciences had a 44% increase in graduate students and a 12% increase at the undergraduate level, and continued to be the largest Faculty, with 52.5% of the total student body.
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