Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles has declared the University of the West Indies (UWI) is seeking to transform into a “global educational powerhouse” through expanded international partnerships and research initiatives, Barbados Today reported on Sunday, April 28.
Further, Beckles, the renowned Caribbean historian has also announced the process has begun to completely “decolonize” the university which began life in the former British West Indies, and deepen its role as a key part of the regional integration movement.
Beckles delivered a report titled “Future Focus: 75 years Regional Transformation to Global Leadership” to the UWI University Council, its highest decision-making body, highlighting the university’s progress and challenges over the past academic year as it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
“The University of the West Indies has been enormously successful,” he said. “This report argues that not only have we been a very successful institution over 75 years, but we are now in a position to serve our people even more fundamentally in terms of their transformation.”
The vice chancellor credited strategic global partnerships, such as a recent agreement with Northwest University in Johannesburg, South Africa, as key to enhancing UWI’s international reputation and access to resources. He also noted the university has evolved from a regional academic body to a “multinational university powerhouse” with campuses and centers across the Caribbean, North America, China, and Africa.
Despite achievements, the noted scholar acknowledged that UWI continues to face financial hurdles like unfunded pension liabilities and budget cuts, though he said the university is implementing reforms to address these issues.
“We continue to monitor at all costs within our university that are impacting our balance sheet in negative ways,” he remarked.