The UWI ushers 75th anniversary celebrations with “UWI Day”

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Tuesday, December 20, 2022—2023 is an important milestone year for The University of the West Indies (The UWI) as it marks 75 years since the official opening of its first Campus in Mona, Jamaica. Saturday, January 7, 2023 has been declared “UWI Day”, and will be commemorated with a series of proclamations by some regional heads of state across the region, signalling the start of UWI 75th anniversary celebrations under the theme: UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.

The date holds special significance for The UWI. On January 7, 1947, the governing body of the University College of the West Indies—a branch of the University of London intended to serve British colonies—assembled for its first meeting in the House of the British Council in Jamaica. It was at this first meeting that a decision was taken for lands at Mona, Jamaica to be used for establishing the first campus of The University of the West Indies. One year later, on October 4, 1948, the Campus welcomed its first class of 33 medical students.

“Several events and activities, managed with careful financial prudence, are being planned to commemorate this 75th jubilee milestone”, said Dr. Maurice D. Smith, University Registrar and Chair, The UWI 75th Anniversary Planning Committee. “It’s a chance for alumni, faculty, staff, students, partners and our wider community to celebrate their connections to our beloved UWI. We also welcome interested corporate partners, through myriad opportunities available, to be part of the celebrations,” he added.

The UWI’s 75th anniversary year will feature initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on its past, confront the present, and articulate plans for its future across all five campuses as well as internationally, through partner associations and affiliates.

The first event carded following UWI Day is an Interfaith Convocation Service at the University Chapel at the Mona Campus on January 8. The Service will be broadcast live via the University’s public information platform, UWItv.

The UWI community is invited to visit the anniversary website, www.uwi.edu/75 for the anniversary calendar which continues to be updated regularly, and also take the opportunity to share their UWI memories and experiences.

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.

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.

For more, visit www.uwi.edu.