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Principal's Message


The Path of an Expansive and Diverse Global Focus

    Over the past year, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has undertaken an impressive infrastructural revolution that has been primarily geared at expanding and enhancing our teaching, learning and research focus.

Our mandate of becoming the premier higher education institution in the Caribbean has forced us to establish new and critical connections with partners from across the globe, whilst it also acted as a catalyst for the rebranding and redevelopment of some of our most well renowned institutions and schools.

We have engaged in significant and new research that will not only aid in placing our research community on the international map, but will also prove to become integral knowledge contributions to our nation’s ongoing quest towards growth and development - ultimately meeting our targets for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Collectively, the achievements of The UWI over the past year reaffirm that we will continue to be a higher learning institution that evolves; that is dedicated to providing the highest quality education to our students; committed to improving our society; and one which will remain determined to establishing our permanent mark on knowledge acquisition and research for our very deserving Caribbean community.

One of the most prominent changes we have undertaken recently has been the rebranding of the Science Library and the re-designation of the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC).

The UWI has also initiated a new partnership with South Africa’s University of Johannesburg that will establish a new Institute for Global Africa Affairs; and in collaboration with the University of Lagos we will be establishing the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies.

These initiatives indicate the expanding and evolving nature of our programming, the international focus of our institutions, and illustrate the dynamic research currently being undertaken at the Mona Campus.

It is our belief that by highlighting a more regional, and indeed global, focus in our programming and research initiatives we will be able to drive greater interest from students from across the Caribbean and internationally to consider The UWI as their future in education. These changes illustrate that The UWI is indeed an institution with an expansive and diverse global focus.

In addition to including a more diverse selection of new academic programmes for the 2017-2018 academic year we have also engaged in some very integral research projects that are aimed at improving the welfare and way of life for the Jamaican society.

These research projects have also provided our students with the opportunities to engage in unique and innovative research endeavours. The Parrotfish research project that is being undertaken by the Discovery Bay Marine Lab, in collaboration with Sandals Resort, is just one of the many research projects being carried out by our exceptional teams of researchers that will play an integral role in solving some of Jamaica’s most problematic development issues.

These initiatives highlight our commitment to improving and developing our nation – making a better place for future generations.

As Principal, I am also pleased to recognise the outstanding achievements of our academic staff, particularly those who have received new appointments. The UWI is also pleased to celebrate the achievements of many of our exceptional students who were awarded for their hard work over the past year.

The UWI is also honoured to officially induct Jamaica’s Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Andrew Holness, into our Prime Ministers Park, which will now act as a symbolic reminder to our students of what hard work and true dedication can yield for them.

The past year, and our upcoming 2017-2018 academic year, will illustrate to the wider community, and indeed our colleagues in the higher learning community across the globe that The UWI, Mona Campus, is continuing to embark on a steady and certain path to greatness and growth.

We have indeed been able to redesign this institution into one of academic and research excellence and with our continued commitment to our students and creating innovative research we will continue to represent the crème de la crème of tertiary education.

Professor Archibald McDonald
Pro-Vice Chancellor & Principal
UWI, Mona Campus


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