June 26, 2019 – Announcement of the formal approval for the establishment of UWI Five Island Campus.
The Council of the University of the West Indies led by Chancellor Mr. Robert Bermudez approved the establishment of a campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Antigua and Barbuda. The campus physical location is the facility originally built to be a government secondary school in the Five Islands community.
The announcement was made by UWI Vice Chancellor Professor Hilary Beckles who context the establishment of the UWI FC as an important hub in the UWI family not just to service Antigua and Barbuda, but to enhance the development agenda of the OECS sub-region, “A hub to enable the greater participation in the development agendas of the OECS”.
UWI FIC is the fourth landed campus, the fifth overall following on the Open Campus which was the primary platform through which the citizens countries without a landed campus were served
In 2017, the Council of The University of the West Indies received a presentation from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda calling for the establishment of a 21st century, fit for purpose campus, to promote national and sub regional economic and social development, with a focus on the robust expansion of its social capital.
The Council, in response, established a Task Force to conduct a Feasibility Study under the co-chairmanship of Pro Vice-Chancellors Professor Alan Cobley and Professor Densil Williams. The Task Force submitted its report in March 2019, and recommended the creation of a campus, designed specifically to meet the needs of Antigua and Barbuda, and the OECS sub region, on the basis of projected financial feasibility. Critically, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, provided the Task Force with financial data and evidence of its policy intent, illustrating its ability to meet the financial operations of the campus.
The Report recommended to Council, the establishment of the campus within defined guidelines outlined for programme and facilities development. Council in accepting the recommendation of the Task Force, further instructed management to establish an Implementation Committee that will proceed immediately to craft and guide the creation of the Five Island Campus. The implementation committee completed its mandate, and the University was established accepting its first batch of students in September 2019.
It is important to note that the establishment of the UWI FIC received the endorsement and support of all of the Prime Ministers of the OECS.
The institution’s first batch of students who matriculated comprised students who were enrolled in levels 1 and 2 programs of The UWI that were being delivered in Antigua under a franchise agreement at the Antigua State Community College and other tertiary level institutions, and students who enrolled in post graduate certifications. The first batch of students graduated January 10, 2021.
For further information – https://sta.uwi.edu/news/releases/release.asp?id=21932