News Releases

Royalty, Racism, Republicanism & Reparation: Preparing for the 60th Anniversary of Nationhood in the CARICOM Region was the theme of the virtual Vice-Chancellor’s Forum held on March 25, 2021 by The University of the West Indies (UWI). A collaborative effort of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and the Centre for Reparation Research (CRR), the forum marked the annual International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

A Graduation Class of over 1,300 students was celebrated with unique elegance when The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus held its inaugural virtual graduation ceremony on Saturday evening. Family and friends of the graduates were able to share in the occasion as images of them were beamed across the globe on UWItv and social media platforms.

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) will confer 14 honorary degrees at its 2020 graduation ceremonies. The ceremonies, which are scheduled to take place from January – March, 2021, in a mix of blended, virtual formats, will celebrate a graduating class of approximately 8500 students across the region. In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, The UWI graduations will retain the tradition of recognising Caribbean excellence through the conferral of honorary degrees awarded for a wide variety of fields.

The United Nations has invited Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), to serve as an expert for its “Futures of Higher Education Project”. Led by the UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNESCO-IESALC), the project is intended to “generate innovative and visionary ideas about the purpose and functions of higher education.”

As annual budget meetings at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) commenced on March 2, Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Dr. The Honourable Hubert Minnis urged fellow governments to invest more in the regional University for the future economic development. Addressing the Opening Ceremony for the Meetings of Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) for The UWI, Prime Minister Minnis called for an investment rather than an expenditure approach to the University.

A new university study is underway to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on student learning experiences. The University of the West Indies has embarked on research to assess motivation, efficacy for learning, the academic and social experiences of students with and without disabilities during COVID-19 across the campuses of The UWI.

Leading the research is the School of Education at the Cave Hill campus with Dr. Stacey Blackman as the Principal Investigator. Other researchers on the project include Drs. Grace Fayombo & Grace-Anne Jackman also of Cave Hill.

The AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine has arrived on Caribbean shores. “This marks the start of a new phase in the pandemic in which we start the 'fight back' against COVID-19” says Professor Clive Landis, Immunologist and Chairman of The University of the West Indies COVID-19 Task Force.

A member of the corporate community has made a significant donation to Operation Seek and Save, a national initiative aimed at getting a handle on Covid-19 and dengue fever cases. This week, Armstrong Agencies donated 60 cases of Claytons Kola Kick energy drink, 10 cases of iCool water and four boxes of Alcolado Glacial.

An ambitious national survey to gather health-related data across Barbados got underway yesterday, as one of the Government of Barbados’ latest initiatives to halt the spread of Covid-19. The field operation involves hundreds of university students along with Barbados Defence Force, public transport and other state representatives providing critical logistical support.

Attorney-at-Law and graduate of the Faculty of Law at The UWI Cave Hill Campus Dario Welch was elected President of the UWI Alumni Association, UWIAA, (Barbados Chapter) at its Annual General Meeting held virtually recently. Cecilia Neblett-Brathwaite, a Behaviour Change Specialist was elected Vice-President.