Estimated 9,300 to receive degrees at 2019 UWI Graduations
Graduation season at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) commences this weekend in Antigua and Barbuda. The UWI Open Campus graduation ceremony which takes place on Saturday, October 12, 2019 from 10:00 am Eastern Caribbean time at the St John’s Pentecostal Ministries Church in Antigua, marks the start of four consecutive weeks of ceremonies across the region’s premier university.
An estimated 9,300 degrees are expected to be awarded at a total of 13 ceremonies. Of that, more than 1,000 will be at the Open Campus, over 1,200 at Cave Hill, nearly 4,000 at St. Augustine and followed by more than 3,000 at Mona. Among some interesting statistics on this year’s graduating class, more than two-thirds of the graduands[i] are female; nearly 7,000 persons will receive undergraduate degrees, while over 2,000 will be awarded graduate degrees.
The UWI continues its tradition of broadcasting the series of ceremonies from start to end, via its public information platform, UWItv. Family and friends who want to watch loved ones cross the stage, can tune in online via www.uwitv.org, Facebook or a local UWItv channel on Flow.
Considered among the most important ceremonies on the University calendar, the graduation elements are steeped in tradition, beginning with the procession of graduands, the academic procession (of faculty and administration), and the Chancellor’s procession. University Chancellor, Robert Bermudez presides over the ceremony and delivers the opening address. Honorary degrees are then awarded to selected persons in recognition of their stellar contributions to Caribbean development. In some instances, an honorary graduate will deliver and address. This is followed by the award of first degrees, diplomas and certificates, the valedictory address and the award of higher degrees and postgraduate diplomas. Graduates are then invited to join the UWI Alumni Association in the recital of the UWI Alumni Pledge before the official closure of the ceremony and singing of The UWI song.
This year, 10 honorary degrees will be awarded to Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton at the Open Campus; Ms. Maxine Williams, Mr. Stedson ‘Red Plastic Bag’ Wiltshire and Mr. Alan Emtage at Cave Hill; Mr. Ewart Williams and Mr. Pelham Goddard at St Augustine and Mr. Patrick A. A. Hylton, Mrs. Thalia Lyn and Reverend Dr. Burchell Taylor at Mona.
More information on the prestigious graduation traditions and a complete itinerary of the ceremonies and can be found on www.uwi.edu/graduation. The listing is also included below. All times are in Eastern Caribbean time.
Open Campus
Saturday, October 12, 2019
10:00 a.m.
ALL FACULTIES
Honorary Graduand: Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton of Saint Kitts and Nevis for Public Service – LLD
Cave Hill Campus
Saturday, October 19, 2019
10.00 a.m. | Faculties of Humanities & Education, Engineering, Food & Agriculture, Law, Medical Sciences, Science & Technology, and Sport
Honorary Graduand: Ms. Maxine Williams – LLD
5.00 p.m. | Faculty of Social Sciences
Honorary Graduands: Mr. Stedson “Red Plastic Bag” Wiltshire – DLitt and Mr. Alan Emtage – DSc
St Augustine Campus
Thursday, October 24, 2019
10.00 a.m. | Faculties of Science & Technology and Food & Agriculture
Honorary Graduand: Professor Harold Ramkissoon – DSc
4.00 p.m. | Faculties of Engineering and Law
Friday, October 25, 2019
10.00 a.m. | Faculty of Social Sciences, surnames A – L Undergraduate Graduands and all ALJGSB Graduands, surnames A – Z
4.00 p.m. | Faculty of Social Sciences, surnames M – Z Undergraduate graduands only and ALL Postgraduate graduands from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute for Gender & Development Studies, Institute of International Relations and Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social & Economics Studies Surnames A-Z
Honorary Graduand: Mr. Ewart Williams – LLD
Saturday, October 26, 2019
10.00 a.m. | Faculty of Humanities & Education
Honorary Graduand: Mr. Pelham Goddard – DLitt
4.00 p.m. Faculty of Medical Sciences
Mona Campus
Friday, November 01, 2019
11.00 a.m. | Faculties of Social Sciences, (ALL graduands EXCEPT those from the Mona School of Business and Management – (Graduate and Undergraduate) and Law
Honorary Graduand: Mrs. Thalia Lyn
5.30 p.m. | Faculties of Humanities and Education, Science and Technology, Engineering and Food and Agriculture – (Graduate and Undergraduate).
Honorary Graduand: Reverend Dr. Burchell Taylor
Saturday, November 02, 2019
11.00 a.m. | Faculty of Social Sciences, (graduands from the Mona School of Business and Management) – (Graduate and Undergraduate) and Institute for Gender and Development Studies.
Honorary Graduand: Mr. Patrick A. A. Hylton
5.30 p.m. | Faculty of Medical Sciences – (Graduate and Undergraduate) and the Faculty of Sport.
[i] A graduand is someone who is eligible to graduate, but has not yet graduated. Once the degree has been conferred or diploma awarded, the candidate becomes a graduate.
