History


1960's - 1970's
Women´s Movement creates global momentum for change.
 
1975 - 1985
UN Decade of Women – Activities intensified to improve the status of women and transform gender relations.
 
1977
Regional seminar on The Integration of Women in Caribbean Development, in Jamaica recommends establishment of a “Women and Development Unit” at the University of the West Indies.
 
1978
Women and Development Unit (WAND) established in Barbados to build consciousness, capacity and cohesion and to link academics and activists on issues related to women in rural development, in low income households and in trade unions.
 
1979 - 1982
Women in the Caribbean Project (WICP) developed, meeting of regional educators hosted by WAND recommended establishment of a multi-disciplinary teaching programme at the UWI within a five-year period.
 
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Women and Development Studies (WDS) Groups formed on the three UWI campuses comprised of women and men at UWI. The aims were to: increase knowledge of gender issues in the Caribbean; prepare an integrated, interdisciplinary programme of Women/Gender and Development Studies and link teaching research and outreach.
 
1986
Gender in Caribbean Development, Inaugural Seminar organized by the WDS Group, St. Augustine in September 1986 – informed agenda for change.
 
1986

Gender in Caribbean Development, an inaugural seminar organized by the WDS Group, St Augustine held in September 1986, informed the agenda for change.

Gender and Development Studies was institutionalized at UWI with 7-year funding support from a Project of 'Co-operation in Teaching and Research in Women and Development Studies' funded by the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague. Netherlands; and the Overseas Development Co-operation Division of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The programme included: courses for undergraduate and graduate students and researchers.

 
1992
WDS 10th anniversary symposium, Mona, Jamaica, December 1992.
 
1993
CGDS was instituted at UWI (September 1, 1993).
 
2003
UWI Mona Academic Conference entitled: Gender in the 21st Century was held to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Gender and Development Studies at the UWI.
 
2008
In October 2008, the UWI Council gave approved to upgrade the status of the CGDS from Centre to Institute able to grant its own undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
In November, the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Gender and Development Studies as a teaching and research Centre at the UWI was observed with a two-day regional symposium from November 10-11, 2008 in honour of Professor Elsa Leo-Rhynie entitled : Gender Perspectives in Education: Caribbean Impact, Global Reach, for her contribution to scholarship and administration at the institution. It also commemorated and reflected on the genesis, development and future direction of Gender and Development Studies at UWI. The event was incorporated into the UWI’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
 
2009 - 2010
Full implementation of the Major (BSc in Gender and Development) following approval in 2008/2009.
 



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