| Short term exchange programmes provide valuable
avenues for student and staff development. On those occasions
UWI Student Services staff members are exposed to student learning
and development programmes offered in the host institutions,
shared with colleagues the programmes offered at UWI Mona, discussed
common student concerns and methods of addressing the concerns
and formulate strategies, and methods for deepening and widening
the exchange programmes.
Although each contingent continues to be limited to twelve
students and four members of staff, (as a result of budgetary
constraints), the programmes are designed so that the visiting
groups interact extensively with administrative, academic
and Student Service staff members, and a wide cross section
of students.
Community interaction at various levels is also built into
the programmes. The visiting groups through visits to the
Parliaments/State Departments of host countries gain first
hand insight into the politics and forms of governments of
the countries visited. State officials do presentations, accommodate
questions and host the visitors.
Knowledge of the economies of countries visited is gained
through tours of factories, farms, scientific research centres,
tourist localities and commercial centres.
One of the highlights of the programme continues to be the
community services (including the teaching of Spanish and
English in the relevant countries) which do not only present
the opportunity for service in an international context, but
also expose participants to the social realities of countries
visited.
Of equal importance are the practical lessons in geography
and social studies that are learnt on the visits. Many students
experience for the first time, classroom knowledge like a
real dormant volcano with a crater lake, an Indian reservation,
a farm work programme in action - to name a few.
In the words of one UWI participant, “we learnt in 10
days, what it would take volumes in many libraries to learn”.
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