THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES – FIVE ISLANDS CAMPUS
CEREMONIES FOR THE PRESENTATION OF GRADUATES 2023
CAMPUS PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
The last time the world was at such a tipping point was the first Industrial Revolution which led to remarkable advances in human well-being, but it also led to the “Great Divergence” as there was a sharp divergence in living standards between nations and regions that embraced that revolution and those that did not. The Caribbean cannot afford to be victims of a “Great Divergence” consequent to the fifth Industrial Revolution. The region and the world are depending on you graduands to lead the Caribbean in this transition. Again, warmest congratulations to the class of 2023. You can now take your place as proud UWI Pelicans; distinguished “Frigates” ready to serve your country and the wider Caribbean region. Graduating class of 2023, you are only taking leave from the lecture theatre, the Five Islands Campus will forever be your nesting place. Graduates stand ready contribute to the Caribbean and the world confront this major tipping point in human history. There is no doubt in my mind that you will answer the call to arms.
The Caribbean region leads the world in gun related homicides. In our beautiful tropical paradise young men shoot each other to death with impunity daily and whole communities are held to ransom by gunmen. As you graduate from our academy I implore you not to sit on your laurels but to go out and become the next generation of globally impactful advocates from the Caribbean for peace and justice. I implore you to lead the way in developing effective, innovative, just and equitable solutions to this crime gun related crime crisis that bedevils the region. In the second decade of the 21 st century humankind is on the cusp of the 5 th Industrial Revolution led by the rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence. “During the next decade we’re going to see smarts put into everything,” said Ed Lazowska, a computer scientist at the University of Washington who is a specialist in Big Data. “Smart homes, smart cars, smart health, smart robots, smart science, smart crowds and smart computer-human interactions.” The first Industrial Revolution freed humankind from the limits of muscle and animal power. The fifth Industrial Revolution offers the opportunity to free us from the limits of our mental capacities. As you graduate from our academy, I implore you not to sit on your laurels but to go out and lead the way to ensure that the Caribbean is able to capitalize on the opportunities and manage the threats arising from this fifth Industrial Revolution.
Prof. C. Justin Robinson Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal
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