UWI’s 75th Anniversary Signature Collection to showcase Indigenous Entrepreneurs

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Wednesday, April 25, 2023 — To mark its 75th anniversary (1948-2023), The University of the West Indies has made a call for indigenous entrepreneurs and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to partner with the University on a UWI 75th Anniversary Signature Collection.

The initiative, part of the year-long celebration under the theme: UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising, aims to support the discovery and promotion of Caribbean creatives and entrepreneurs from among The UWI’s staff, student and alumni populations.

According to Dr. Maurice D. Smith, University Registrar & Chair of The UWI’s 75th Anniversary Central Planning Committee, “The Caribbean’s best is found among our students, staff and alumni and we want this to be an opportunity to showcase their work and of course to celebrate The UWI’s longstanding legacy as an entrepreneurial university, investing in the development of innovation and creativity among our entrepreneurs. The UWI network is wide, so the potential value of the brand partnerships for these SMEs is tremendous. We’re celebrating our student, staff and alumni entrepreneurship by creating this unique and remarkable opportunity for visibility across audiences within the campuses, the wider Caribbean region and diaspora markets.”
Products selected to comprise this suite of high-quality, attractive merchandise for sale as part of the commemorative activities places particular emphasis on indigenous and/or custom products produced locally. The UWI’s 75th Anniversary Signature Collection will be made available for purchase at University Bookshops across the regional University campuses.
UWI-affiliated entrepreneurs and SMEs interested in pitching for The UWI’s 75th Anniversary Signature Collection can learn more by visiting The UWI’s 75th Anniversary website www.uwi.edu/75. The official application form is available at https://bit.ly/UWI75thSignatureCollection.

The deadline date for expressions of interest is May 12, 2023.

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years.

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old). The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu.