UWI Research Days Focus on Economic Growth Projects

The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona will be using the three-day platform of Research Days 2014 to signal what it says is a shift in the focus of the annual event to now target projects which will impact Jamaica’s economic growth.

 The 14-year-old event, which has moved from being a single day to a three-day affair, will run from February 19 to 21 and showcase the university’s research work across disciplines, under the theme ‘Fostering Growth and Development in Small Island Developing States Through Research’.

 Speaking at the weekly Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange yesterday, UWI Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Archibald McDonald said even as the university continues to build on the strong foundation left by his predecessor Professor Gordon Shirley, there are significant changes taking place with one very significant shift being in the area of research.

 “This year we are focusing on development in small island states… but remember that we are a regional university, so we serve more than Jamaica; we serve 16 countries in the Caribbean,” he told reporters and editors.

 Noting that the 65-year-old university has “done very well”, especially in the social aspects, Professor McDonald said the institution “should be doing better”.

 “In terms of making an impact on the economy of Jamaica, I don’t believe we have done as well as we should be doing. So the Mona Office for Research and Innovation, its mandate is to support those research projects which have the potential to impact Jamaica’s development in the broad sense, but especially Jamaica’s economic development,” he said.

 “We have sort of changed the focus in terms of our research and are now concentrating on projects which will have a direct impact on Jamaica’s and regional development,” he added.

 In that regard, he said, the university has much to unleash. “You will see, for example, where one of our young researchers has extracted compounds from the eucalyptus plant… an active compound which is as good as a commonly used drug which has the potential to lower blood sugar and lower blood pressure,” Professor McDonald said, describing the research as excellent.

 “It is early days yet, because having identified the compound there is a process to take it from that to actually having a compound to put in tablet form which we can then test on animals and then patients.

 It’s a long process, but we are very hopeful because this is something which could significantly impact Jamaica’s economic development,” he told the Exchange. Professor McDonald, however, emphasised that the institution in no way intended to abandon research works from persons who have no plan to commercialise but who just want to contribute to the body of knowledge.

 “Those types of research will always be supported by the University of the West Indies.” he said. “If we were to do otherwise we would run the risk of killing innovation.”

 Campus Co-ordinator for Graduate Studies and Research Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer said the shift in focus also extended to the university now having themed exhibits as against going by faculty as it had done in previous years.

 In addition, she said a key activity will be the launch of the Principal’s Regional Initiative tomorrow.