The University of the West Indies has embarked on the preparation of a new Strategic Plan that will shape the development of the regional institution for the period 2007-2012. The process commenced formally with a two-day event held at the Mona Campus on May 1-2, 2006.
The new Strategic Plan will set a priority agenda for growth and transformation of the UWI over the medium term to allow the University to meet current and emerging regional development needs more effectively, through its core activities of teaching, research (knowledge creation) and outreach. The new plan will build on the gains and accomplishments made within the framework of the previous two plans. It will also be informed by several initiatives already mounted by the University to address issues such as governance arrangements, the financing of tertiary education, graduate studies and research, curriculum and the examination system.
The Plan will target changes to foster strategic re-alignment that will enable the institution to exploit opportunities and respond to challenges being generated by the evolving regional and global environment.
Professor E. Nigel Harris, Vice Chancellor of the University, has committed to an inclusive planning process that recognizes the complexity of the organisation and that is designed to facilitate greater engagement of internal and external stakeholders. Five Planning Task Force Groups have been established and charged with the responsibility to obtain inputs from faculty, administrators, staff at all levels, students, alumni, contributing governments and their agencies, the private sectors, and other stakeholder groups throughout the region. The general public will be given opportunities to comment on proposals and submit ideas for strengthening the institution through Internet based communication channels. At the end of the engagement process, there will be a Vision Conference, which will involve participation of both internal and external stakeholders.
The University's Executive Management Team is mindful that among the factors critical to the success of the new Strategic Plan are: (a) relevance to stakeholder needs, (b) effective communication, (c) widespread buy-in by internal and external stakeholders, (d) adequate resourcing of the plan, (e) capacity for implementation, (f) timeliness of implementation effort, and (g) organizational flexibility.
Members of the general public and the university community are urged to avail themselves of every opportunity to impact the planning process.