Professors of Practice appointed at The UWI
Include former Prime Minister, Central Bank Governor and Captains of Industry
The UWI Regional Headquarters Jamaica. November 29, 2018—Former Prime Minister of Barbados, The Right Honourable Owen Arthur, is among the Professors of Practice appointed at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), effective November 1, 2018.
In his new role as Professor of Practice, former Prime Minister Arthur will oversee Economics of Development at The UWI Cave Hill Campus. The other distinguished Professors of Practice appointed across the University include:
Cave Hill Campus
Professor of Practice – Public Policy and Health Care Administration
Dr Dexter James, Chief Executive Officer, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados.
Open Campus
Professor of Practice – Academic Programming and Delivery Division
Dr Paul Bacsich, Director of Matic Media Limited and Senior Associate with Sero Consulting Limited, UK.
St. Augustine Campus
Professor of Practice – Petroleum Engineering
Professor Andrew Jupiter, Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Trinidad and Tobago.
Professor of Practice – International Diplomacy
Mr Winston Dookeran, Former Senior Economist United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and former Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago.
Professor of Practice – Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Mr Gerry Brooks, Chairman of the National Gas Company (NGC) Group of Companies, and former Group Chief Operating Officer and Sector Head - Manufacturing, ANSA McAL.
Vice-Chancellery
Professor of Practice – Global Affairs
Ambassador Dr Richard Bernal, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Affairs and former member of the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank, Jamaica.
Earlier this year, as part of its efforts to deepen academic-industry partnerships and to connect the University’s teaching and research to relevant issues impacting industry in the region, The UWI approved the introduction of the position of ‘Professor of Practice’.
The Professor of Practice is a non-tenured position in the university system where subject matter experts—either practising or retired—are selected for an honorary professorship based on their professional competence, distinguished practice, notable teaching or service contributions. The opportunity to host such experts in fixed-term teaching positions helps make practical knowledge and real-world situations part of the students’ educational experience. These appointees are also eligible to use the title “Professor” for as long as they remain in active association with The UWI.
MORE ABOUT THE PROFESSORS OF PRACTICE
The Right Honourable Owen Arthur is Barbados’ fifth and longest-serving Prime Minister, holding the office from September 1994 to January 2008. The notable Economist is an alumnus of both The UWI Cave Hill and Mona campuses. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1971 in Economics and History at Cave Hill, and his Master’s degree in Economics in 1974 at Mona. He began working in Jamaica in 1973, first as a Research Assistant at the University and later as an Assistant Economic Planner with the Government of Jamaica’s National Planning Agency. In 1981 he returned to Barbados, and worked for the Barbadian Ministry of Finance and Planning from 1981 to 1983, then 1985 to 1986 and also served as a Research Fellow at The UWI’s Institute of Social and Economics Research (now The Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) from 1983 to 1985. His political career began with his appointment to the Barbadian Senate in 1983. In 1993 he was appointed as the parliamentary Opposition Leader as head of the Barbados Labour Party and, upon the party’s decisive victory in the September 1994 elections, he became Prime Minister.
Dr Paul Bacsich is a consultant in online learning (e-learning, including distance learning) with over 30 years’ experience and has personally benchmarked e-learning at over 20 universities in four countries. Dr Bacsich holds an MA in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge and a PhD in Mathematical Logic from the University of Bristol. He has considerable experience in market research, competitor research, due diligence and acquisition prospecting with a focus on the online learning marketspace, working with large universities commercial organisations and venture funds. He is currently the Director of Matic Media Limited and Senior Associate with Sero Consulting Limited—both in the UK. He worked at the Open University in the UK for several years in a variety of roles ending as Assistant Director of the Knowledge and Media Institute. Since 1996 he has been a Professor of Telematics, Director and Consultant.
Ambassador Dr Richard Bernal is an economist with over 40 years’ experience. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University in the US. His formal qualifications include a BSc, MA, and PhD in Economics and an MIPP in International Public Policy. He is a former Counsellor for Jamaica on the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and also served as Executive Director from 2010-2012 and Alternate Executive Director from 2008-2010. Prior to the IDB, he was the Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) for eight years with responsibility for trade negotiations for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Ambassador Bernal also taught economics and development economics at The UWI for seven years and was Jamaica’s Ambassador to the US and Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS) for 10 and a half years.
Mr Gerry Brooks is a distinguished alumnus of The UWI, St Augustine Campus. In 2014, he was among 25 renowned graduates to be recognised by the UWI Alumni Association (Trinidad and Tobago Chapter). The Attorney at Law is also a graduate of Columbia University where he obtained an MBA, Dean’s Honour Roll. Mr Brooks is described as a veritable “captain of industry” for his eminence in the local and regional business community, career and proven leadership in the private sector, in roles such as Chairman of the National Gas Company (NGC) Group of Companies, and Group Chief Operating Officer and Sector Head – Manufacturing, ANSA McAL. In addition to his extensive private sector expertise, Mr Brooks has served in several spheres of public life nationally and regionally. Some highlights include Caribbean Court of Justice Trust Fund, Chairman, Finance and Investment Committee (2003-2014); Vice President, Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (2012-2017); President, Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (2011-2016), and Member, Police Service Commission (1999-2001).
Mr Winston Dookeran is the holder of Trinidad and Tobago’s highest national award, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago(ORTT) for distinguished service in the field of Economics. He holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Manitoba in Canada and a graduate degree in Economics and Political Science from the London School of Economics. He is also a former Senior Economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and a former Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Member of Parliament.
Dr Dexter James, Chief Executive Officer, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados is an alumnus of The UWI St Augustine Campus and holds an MBA from Walden University in the US as well as a PhD from Bangor University in the UK. In addition to these qualifications, he is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Management Accountant. His career began in accounting and financial management before moving to strategic leadership, then to senior management positions at the Ministry of Health and Human Services in the Cayman Islands, Health Authority of Anguilla, St George’s General Hospital in Grenada and the Trinidad and Tobago Regional Health Authority. Dr James is credited with strengthening the accounting and financial management systems at these institutions, and is noted as one of the few Caribbean experts in Health Care Administration.
Mr Andrew Jupiter holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and a Postgraduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering from The UWI St Augustine Campus and an MA in Engineering in Mineral Engineering Management from Pennsylvania State University. He is currently the Coordinator of the MSc Petroleum Engineering and MSc and Postgraduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering at The UWI St Augustine Campus and Petroleum Engineering Chair at the Methanol Holdings Trinidad Limited (MHTL). His career highlights include serving as President of the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited from 2009 to 2012 along with positions of Director on various state boards. He was also Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries in Trinidad and Tobago from 1998 to 2004 and was the recipient of a national award, the Chaconia Medal (Gold) in 2016 (for Public Service).
Notes to the Editor: Tenure - In higher education, tenure is a permanent job contract, granted after a probationary period of six years.
About The UWI
For the past 70 years The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has provided service and leadership to the Caribbean region. In 2018, The UWI celebrates its evolution from 1948 as a university college in Jamaica with 33 medical students to an internationally respected regional university with nearly 50,000 students. Today, The UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and an Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science & Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. Its seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. The UWI has been a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of our people. As the regional institution commemorates its 70th anniversary milestone, it will celebrate its students, faculty, administrators, alumni, governments, and partners in the public and private sector. The anniversary commemoration will focus on reflection as well as projection for the future with an emphasis on social justice and the economic transformation of the region. Website: www.uwi.edu and www.uwi.edu/70 . (Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)
