Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal. Monday, January 5, 2026—On Saturday, January 10, 2026, at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) Global Campus Virtual Graduation Ceremony, Mr Alex Anderson, a graduand of the Bachelor of Education (BEd) in Educational Leadership and Management with First Class Honours, will represent the graduating Class of 2025 as its Valedictorian.
Mr Anderson, a dedicated educator who hails from Montego Bay, St. James, has eight years of experience as a primary school teacher. Throughout his career, he has consistently cultivated confidence, curiosity, and academic success among his students. Driven by a passion for student-centred teaching and a deep belief in education as a tool for personal transformation, he continues to inspire both learners and colleagues alike.
His academic journey began in Canada, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo in 2012. Later in 2020, he furthered his studies by enrolling in the Bachelor of Education in Educational Leadership and Management at The UWI Global Campus. His academic engagement, combined with his practical experience in the classroom, has reinforced his commitment to transformative and student-centred approaches to education.
Mr Anderson’s educational philosophy transcends conventional academic benchmarks. He perceives teaching as a vocation dedicated to guiding students towards the discovery of their potential and the development of critical thinking skills essential for success beyond the classroom. Balancing the demands of full-time teaching, rigorous academic study, and family life, Mr Anderson exemplifies the values of perseverance, resilience, and discipline. He often reflects on the quote by Walter Elliot: ‘Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other,” a sentiment that encapsulates his approach to both personal and professional challenges.
Alex’s philosophy of education extends beyond traditional metrics. He views teaching as a calling to guide students in discovering their potential and developing critical thinking skills that prepare them for life beyond the classroom. His greatest fulfilment comes from witnessing the transformation of effort into achievement and curiosity into confidence.
Beyond his role as an educator and student, Mr Anderson enjoys a range of personal interests, including football, travel, music, and cooking, a passion rooted in formative experiences shared with his mother in a family kitchen. His Christian faith serves as a central pillar of both his personal and professional life, informing his practice with humility, compassion, and purpose. He draws inspiration from the Biblical passage Philippians 2:3-4, which speaks to the importance of valuing others and living a life of purpose and integrity.
Looking toward the future, Mr Anderson aspires to contribute to the development of educational environments that prepare students not only for academic assessments but for life. His vision encompasses classrooms that prioritise creativity and critical thinking, where every child is equipped and empowered to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
As is customary, Mr Anderson will deliver the Valedictory Speech at the Graduation Ceremony on behalf of his fellow graduates from across the Region. Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Francis O. Severin is understandably delighted that an educator is once again being acclaimed in this way, and believes that “… this honour serves as a motivation for other teachers, principals, education officers, and educators generally, whose work and efforts too often go unrecognized, and who certainly must depend for their everyday ‘fuel’ on intrinsic satisfaction and the accomplishments of their students, rather than on pecuniary or monetary rewards.” The Campus’s Senior Management Team celebrates his remarkable academic achievement and extends best wishes for continued success in his future endeavours.
Alex Anderson
Staff, students, alumni, other stakeholders and friends of The UWI across the Region are invited to tune in to the Virtual Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 6:00 pm EC via UWItv.global UWItv’s Facebook Live, Flow EVO channels, and Flow’s Bluu mobile app.
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 center of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 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 nearly 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 Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The UWI offers over 1000 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 the wider world.
The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the 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 Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.
Learn more at www.uwi.edu.
