The TLI Unit is one of the three executing arms of the Board for Non-Campus Countries and Distance Education established in August 1996 to promote, manage and deliver the work of the University in the non-campus countries and in off-campus centres and tertiary institutions in the campus countries. The School of Continuing Studies and the Distance Education Centre are the other two entities responsible for University Outreach. The Chairman of the Board for Non-Campus Countries and Distance Education is Pro-Vice-Chancellor Woodville Marshall.

The Cave Hill Office has responsibility for operations in Barbados, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.

The main objectives of the TLI Unit include:

1. To manage articulation arrangements and processes between UWI and other regional Tertiary Level Institutions (TLIs);
2. To promote institutional development of regional TLIs, thus enhancing their capacity to deliver portions of or full degree programmes;
3. To undertake research designed to improve tertiary level development, and
4. To design, procure funds for and manage special projects to address identified tertiary education development needs.