Jamaica to host UWI Budget Meetings

Following the Heads of Governments meeting with its leadership in Haiti earlier this week to discuss the strategic alignment of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) with regional economies, the sustainability of the University’s funding model, and the debt owed to the institution, The UWI is pleased to announce that the Government of Jamaica will host the Annual Meetings of the Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) at the University’s Regional Headquarters from March 6 to 7, 2018.

During these meetings, the budgets for the biennium 2018–2020 for the University’s four campuses, its Vice-Chancellery and the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) will be reviewed and recommendations made to the Grants Committees. The Grants Committees are then expected to review and approve the recommendations presented by the TACs and advance them to The UWI’s Annual Business Meeting of Council for final approval in April 2018.

TACs are rotated annually across The UWI’s 17 contributing countries. The Government of Jamaica last hosted the meetings in 2012 and the University welcomes its commitment as the 2018 host. The opening session of the 2018 edition of the meetings on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, will feature the Honourable Ruel Reid, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Jamaica as the keynote speaker.

Participants over the two days will include Permanent Secretaries and senior officers from the Ministries responsible for tertiary education, and finance across The UWI’s 17 contributing countries; and the Ministry of Health, Jamaica. Also in attendance will be The UWI’s Executive Management Team including the Vice-Chancellor, Principals, Pro Vice-Chancellors, University Bursar and University Registrar as well as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Campus Bursars and Campus Registrars; along with the senior management team of the UHWI.

In preparing its annual budget, the regional University takes into consideration its developmental needs, particularly human resources services to be maintained, anticipated inflation rates, and the outlook of the region’s economies. It places critical importance on its financial efficiency and accountability, especially given its regional configuration with operations that span multiple governments which have the responsibility to significantly fund the institution’s annual operations. In this regard, The UWI adheres to the most rigorous budgeting processes. These yearly deliberations are testament to the highest standards of financial accountability adopted in The UWI’s stewardship of its operations.