Professor Eon Nigel Harris, Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, presented to the University Council a report on academic year 2004/2005 – his first complete year since assuming office as Vice Chancellor on October 1, 2004.

His report of the performance of the regional institution took into account the goals of the current strategic plan – expansion of access, enhanced quality, increased student-friendliness, strengthening of graduate studies and research, modernisation of management systems, including infusion of Information Technologies and broadening the base of financial support. He also dealt with some additional initiatives, namely, the review and overhaul of the University admissions processes, the examinations system, the outreach sector, the graduate studies and research programmes and the establishment of Centres of Excellence to address specific regional problems, such as disaster risk reduction and crime management.

He reported that enrolment growth had been dramatic on all three campuses, with targets set for the five year plan period having already been far exceeded at the mid-way point in the cycle. This was achieved despite the challenges of inadequate human and physical resources, as the subventions from Governments have not kept pace with the expansion in enrolment. The Vice Chancellor pointed to two initiatives aimed at addressing the problem of insufficient funds to finance the physical expansion of the facilities, namely, the establishment of a Capital Development Task Force charged with identifying alternative sources of financing for specific projects submitted by the campuses and the Symposia on Financing Tertiary Education in the Region, organised by the UWI’s Office of Finance.

Restructuring of the Outreach Sector has been deepened with the holding of consultations with the twelve contributing countries without campuses, the aim being to fashion realistic responses to the specific needs of each country and to widen access to higher education programmes for all Caribbean students. The expansion and strengthening of graduate programmes and research remained a priority goal but he acknowledged that efforts must be redoubled to source funds to finance this. It was noted that the region spends only 0.08% of its GDP on research and development. To stimulate interest in R&D and the UWI role in this critical area, he announced that the plans for establishing a UWI Consulting Company are well advanced. Such a company would offer technical expertise to public and private entities throughout the region, while earning revenue for the University.

A major concern of the Vice Chancellor was identifying mechanisms for strengthening and preserving the regional nature of the University, which found resonance with members of Council. The Secretary-General of CARICOM, in particular, strongly supported initiatives such as the measures to introduce a cross-cultural experience to today’s UWI student, who typically is deprived of exposure to other Caribbean cultures in contrast to the early years of the institution when this had been a hallmark of the UWI experience.

The Vice Chancellor was highly commended for his stewardship and Government Representatives pledged their continued support of the University of the West Indies in its efforts to propel the economic, political social and cultural development of West Indian society.
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Contact:
Cecile R. Clayton
Information Officer
Tel. (876) 977-2407
Fax (876) 977-1422
Email: cecile.clayton@uwimona.edu.jm

April 21, 2006