
The UWI partners with IDB in Sub-Regional Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation.
According to Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, “the Caribbean was a principal global victim of the first and second industrial revolutions, which were built upon slavery and colonialism. Though still recuperating from some of their negative economic and social effects, the Caribbean experienced some recovery during the third industrial revolution in the development of competitive services economies, and is now positioned to make significant advancements in the fourth industrial revolution that is upon us.” Active participation, he added, is the only way to ensure that we propel our Caribbean economies to achieve both economic and social growth, with universities playing a leading role, supported by governments and the private sector.
This partnership is a follow-on to a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between The UWI and IDB which formalised a framework of cooperation in programming to promote evidence-based decision making on economic and social policy issues in the Caribbean region through joint initiatives on research, online education, knowledge creation and dissemination.
The conference sought to expose participants to a characterisation of the key elements of effective eco-systems, facilitate discussion on the level of development of Caribbean eco-systems, and map ways to strengthen them. Participants included Caribbean entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, representatives from regional ministries of economic development, industry and commerce and others as well as representatives from tertiary level educational institutions. UWI academics including Pro Vice-Chancellor – Graduate Studies and Research, Professor Stephan Gift; Director of the Institute of Criminal Justice and Security, Professor Anthony Harriott and Professor Emerita Carolyn Cooper also contributed to the dialogue, making presentations and speaking on panels.
This collaboration between the regional organisation of universities, The UWI and the Inter-American Development Bank presented a unique opportunity to economic, political and academic leaders across the Caribbean and Latin America to exchange ideas on strategies for developing innovative entrepreneurship in the Caribbean and facilitating sustainable development in small states.
Photo Caption: (from left to right): Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, Director, Office of Development, The UWI; Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor, The UWI; the Hon. Fayval Williams, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Jamaica; Mr. Milverton Reynolds, Managing Director, Development Bank of Jamaica; Ms. Audrey Richards, Coordinator of the Jamaica Venture Capital Programme; and Mr. Jose Jorge Saavedra, Lead Operations Specialist, Caribbean Country Department, Inter-American Development Bank.
