At the annual business meeting of University Council held on May 6, 2011 at the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Secretariat in Basseterre, St Kitts, with participation of Ministers of Education, government officials, academics and members of the private sector, the UWI’s supreme governing body undertook a comprehensive examination of its role and mandate as a catalyst for development in the English-speaking Caribbean region. It was acknowledged that the climate within which the University operated had changed drastically since the formation of the institution in 1948. Its regional remit and its role in strengthening the integration process had become even more critical now as governments continued to examine their commitment to regional integration. It was therefore felt that the UWI was challenged to help to “perfect the union”.

Two separate Working Groups convened by the Vice Chancellor, to address two related issues of concern, namely, the apparent weakening of the regional character of the University of the West Indies and the decline in enrolment at the UWI of students from the OECS countries, submitted their reports to Council. The conclusions reached and the recommendations made by these Working Groups occasioned a lively discussion and the Council, having heard the reports from the four campuses, concluded that the UWI continued to make a significant impact on the development of the region, and the investment in higher education embodied in the UWI was critical for the region to be competitive in the global environment. The Council reaffirmed its commitment to the regional enterprise and underscored the need for the ongoing support of the institution by the contributing countries. It proposed to address immediately some of the recommendations made to enhance and further strengthen the regional character of the University, such as emphasising the use of more Caribbean material in its academic courses and increasing movement of staff and students between the campuses. It was further agreed that reviews of the governance of the institution would continue to be undertaken in 10-yearly intervals.