Chair of The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus Council, the Honourable Dr June Soomer, SLC and the Honourable Deputy Premier and Minister with responsibility for Education, Dr. Natalio Wheatley will participate in The UWI Open Campus British Virgin Islands (BVI) Graduate Recognition Ceremony slated for Thursday, October 28, 2021. The Ceremony, scheduled for 4:00 p.m., at The UWI Open Campus Site in Paraquita Bay, is in celebration of the BVI graduates of The University’s Class of 2021.
Seven UWI Open Campus Graduates were conferred with their degrees during the recent Virtual Graduation Ceremony on October 16, 2021: Michael Smith, Kamica Harris and Simone Simpson-Pope were awarded their Bachelor of Science Degrees in Accounting, Management Studies/Economics and Youth Development Work, respectively, while Rodney Brathwaite was awarded a Graduate Certificate in Disaster Risk Management and Resilience. Tavia Hodge received the Master of Science in Management and Heida Joyles-Selwood was awarded the Master of Science Management in Educational Leadership with Distinction. During the ceremony, the Chancellor of The UWI, Mr Robert Bermudez also bestowed the first UWI Open Campus BVI Doctor of Education degree on BVI Islander, Dr Susan Frett-Potter.
Three Graduates from the Cave Hill and Mona Campuses will also be recognised during the local ceremony: Khyra Powell and Sade’ Piper (Bachelor of Laws) and Mornel Horne, Master of Social Sciences Intel Trade Policy.
Dr. Soomer, who is currently in the BVI on other official business, was recently awarded the prestigious Saint Lucia Cross, the country’s highest national award, during Saint Lucia’s 41st Anniversary of Independence. She was appointed Chair of the Open Campus Council in 2018 after serving as Saint Lucia’s Ambassador to the OECS and CARICOM with responsibility for Diaspora Affairs from 2008-2016. Most recently, Dr. Soomer was Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States until 2020. She will deliver the Keynote Address and present the Graduates with their degrees.
The Honourable Deputy Premier and Minister with responsibility for Education will bring greetings during the Ceremony.
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About The UWI
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.
From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with approximately 45,000 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.
Ranked among the top universities in the world, by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education, The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists. In 2020, it earned ‘Triple 1st’ rankings—topping the Caribbean; and in the top in the tables for Latin America and the Caribbean, and global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old). The UWI is also featured among the top 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.
For more, visit www.uwi.edu.
(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)
