A motion for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) to become a full contributing country of The University of the West Indies (UWI) was carried unanimously at the annual business meeting of The University Council held in Nassau, Bahamas on Friday April 25, 2014.
 
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services, the Hon. Akierra Missick, who, along with Permanent Secretaries Cheryl-Ann Jones and Wesley Clerveaux from the office of the Premier were present for the adoption of the motion, will represent the TCI on the University Council.
 
This motion follows a unanimous resolution by the TCI government to make the country a full contributing member of The UWI. On January 30, the House of Assembly of the Turks and Caicos Islands overwhelmingly passed the resolution presented by the Premier for an application to be submitted to The UWI for the TCI to be a designated contributing country.
 
The cost of an undergraduate degree programme at The UWI is based on the economic cost of tuition and a registration fee. The contributing countries pay 80 per cent of the economic cost on behalf of each sponsored student directly to the University Bursar. Previously, the TCI paid the full tuition fee for every student it sponsored, but as a full contributing member, government will receive a 40 per cent discount on the economic cost. Meanwhile, should a student not be awarded a Government scholarship and wish to attend the University, the TCI government will still be able to assist the student by absorbing 80 per cent of the economic cost. That student will therefore pay only 20 per cent of the economic cost of the tuition fee.
 
The TCI is the last remaining UK overseas territory and last associate member of CARICOM to become a contributing country of The UWI.