The UWI celebrates alumna Christine Kangaloo on becoming the seventh President of T&T

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. March 20, 2023—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) celebrates with great pride alumna, Her Excellency Christine Kangaloo on her appointment to the esteemed office of President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Her Excellency, President Kangaloo, who was inaugurated on March 20, 2023 to serve as the seventh President of Trinidad and Tobago also has the honour of being only the second woman to hold the position. She was preceded by President Paula May Weekes, another UWI alumna and the first woman President of Trinidad and Tobago.

Extending congratulations on behalf of the regional UWI community, Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles noted, “Regionally and internationally our alumni continue to excel in every sphere of public life, and we celebrate the impact of our alumni every day. It is however a special occasion when one of our own ascends to the highest seats of leadership in the region. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary and reflect on our rich legacy of leading Caribbean development, this is the kind of occasion that reinforces the need for The UWI to continue rooted, ready and rising.”

President Kangaloo graduated from The UWI and the Hugh Wooding Law School and was admitted to practice Law in 1985. An accomplished legal mind and parliamentarian, she has made history before as the only person to serve both as President and Vice President of the Senate. Over her career, she has also served in a wide range of legislative and ministry portfolios including Opposition Senator, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education. She has acted in the position of President on several occasions and was elected by a 48–22 secret ballot vote of the electoral college.

Since 2003, all Heads of State of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago have had strong ties with The UWI. One former Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal and three alumni have served in this office.

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.