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New Institute of Information Technology Established from UWI-China Partnership

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is pleased to announce that its collaboration with the Global Institute of Software Technology (GIST) in Suzhou, China has produced a UWI-China Institute of Science and Technology which will open later this year. While the establishment of relationship between The UWI and GIST, and feasibility studies of the initiative began early in 2015, the Memorandum of Agreement confirming the Institute was signed at The UWI, Cave Hill Campus in Barbados on February 19, 2016. The Institute is expected to open with its first cohort of students reading towards a bachelor’s degree in Science and Technology at The UWI, Cave Hill in September 2016.
 
Speaking the next day at the post-MOA signing press conference, hosted at The UWI Regional Headquarters in Jamaica on February 20, 2016, UWI Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles noted, "This great project is the first major step of UWI moving into the global space. We have had relationships with hundreds of universities all over the world over several decades, but this is the first occasion that The UWI is partnering with another university to establish a new university.” 
 
This UWI-China Institute of Information Technology is a clear alignment with Vice-Chancellor Beckles’ leadership vision, who is keen on driving the globalisation of The UWI brand through expansion and alertness to global opportunities. According to Vice-Chancellor Beckles, “Establishing strong linkages with partner institutions, especially those with similar strategic thrusts as ours, augurs well for enabling the level of economic turnaround and wealth generation that the Caribbean so desperately needs”. He added, "One of the largest nations of the world has now partnered with one of the smallest nations. This is truly significant!"
 
Executive Chairman of GIST, Dr Wang Bin Tai, said he hopes the Institute would serve to mutually increase knowledge about and appreciation for the history and culture of the people of the Caribbean and China, noting that the Institute will “…develop a platform for change between the young people in China and the Caribbean."  He also stated “Caribbean students who complete their degrees in China, will enjoy all the privileges that Chinese students do, including bursaries, scholarships and internships." 
 
Students of the Institute will be taught using state-of-the-art software engineering, training and research and development. There is also provision for a mandatory student internship in China as well as faculty exchanges and collaboration as part of the programmes.
 
Principal of The UWI Cave Hill campus in Barbados, Professor Eudine Barriteau, who also witnessed the MOA signing noted that education in science and technology is critical to the advancement of the Caribbean. She stated, “…A programme of this nature will open up learning vistas and expand horizons for our students. We know young Caribbean people see information technology as a way of life. In a sense we are together paving the way to the future for them.”
 
(Photo) Dr Wang Bin Tai, Executive Chairman of the Global Institute of Software Technology, Suzhou, China signs the agreement to establish the UWI-China Institute of Science and Technology with Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies. 
 


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