UWI invites its network to Diamond Jubilee Week Celebrations

The University of the West Indies, Regional Headquarters, W.I. Monday July 10, 2023 — The University of the West Indies (The UWI) continues the yearlong celebrations in honour of its 75th anniversary with a special Diamond Jubilee Week of celebration from July 17 – 22, 2023.

The schedule of events for the week includes: an Alumni Reception on July 17; the UWI Medical Alumni Association Biennial Conference carded for July 18-19; a higher education forum themed Beyond 75 – Vision, Strategy and Leadership for Higher Education (July 20); an evening of world-class entertainment with the University Singers (July 20) as well as a highly anticipated ‘Back in Time’ Fete featuring Fab-Five on July 22 to close the celebrations on a high.

The special series of events, hosted at the Mona Campus, is a valuable opportunity for The UWI’s wide network of staff, students, alumni, partners and friends from across the globe to join the celebrations. According to University Registrar, and Chair of the 75th Anniversary Planning Committee, Dr. Maurice D. Smith “Since the start of the year, across our campuses, we have hosted several outstanding events and activities to commemorate this diamond jubilee anniversary. This week however is significant; these events specifically take us back to the physical grounds of our humble beginnings 75 years ago. We invite everyone who has a connection to The UWI and anticipate a wonderful mix of nostalgia and excitement as patrons reconnect with each other on old ‘stomping grounds’ and we celebrate the advancements of this excellent regional institution.”

Speaking on the flagship Jubilee event – the higher education forum, Beyond 75 - Vision, Strategy and Leadership for Higher Education, Dr. Smith continued “As we celebrate the yeoman service The UWI has delivered to the region over the past 75 years, we have also set time aside to look beyond to the future we need for higher education. We have invited several of our partner institutions and other important regional voices to help cast that vision.” The hybrid forum features a keynote address from The Honourable Dr. Terrance M. Drew, Prime Minster of St. Kitts & Nevis along with presentations from UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, University Registrar Dr. Maurice M. Smith and representatives from partner organisations including the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Area Network for Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education (CANQATE) and CARICOM Private Sector Organisation. The public can join the livestream on UWItv via www.uwitv.global

Persons interested in any of The UWI’s Diamond Jubilee Week celebratory events can visit the event calendar at www.uwi.edu/75 for more information. Tickets for paid events are available at the Institutional Advancement Division, UWI Regional Headquarters and the University Bookshop, Mona Campus.

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.