70 years of Service, 70 years of Leadership

Dear Friend of UWI,

Greetings as we embark on the 70th year of our beloved university.

For the past 70 years our university has provided positively impactful services and transformational leadership to the Caribbean region.

Since its inception as a College of the University of London in 1948, and its transition as an independent regional university in 1962, it has been a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development. It continues to reside at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of our people.

In this 70th year, we celebrate our evolution from a university college situated at Mona with 33 medical students to an internationally respected regional university with near 50,000 students. With four campuses—at Mona, Jamaica, at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, at Cave Hill, Barbados, and the Open Campus, with sites throughout the region—the university has demonstrated its relevance and illustrated its quality as a site of excellence in the Caribbean.

With an ethical mandate to be accessible to all who meet its requirements, it has won the respect of sister universities globally, enabling it to establish partnering centres in North America, Asia, and Africa.

Its alumni are found in all areas of public life and have brought the university tremendous honour through their regional and global achievements and contributions.

As we celebrate the past and contemplate the future in this 70th year, I am pleased to share with you this video message.

The anniversary year begins with an Inter-faith service at The UWI Chapel, Mona Campus in Jamaica on Sunday, 7th January, 2018 from 9:15 a.m. (Jamaica time). The thanksgiving service will also be carried as a special package on UWItv (aired at a later date – to be determined).

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles
Vice-Chancellor