Cementing its place as the Caribbean’s top University, The University of the West Indies (UWI) made its debut in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Rankings as the only institution in the Caribbean region to be listed in its 2018 Latin America University Rankings, released on July 18, 2018.
THE, the independent, prestigious UK-based ranking publication, listed UWI among the 40 best universities in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is also significant that UWI ranked 4th for its international agenda and 26th for its research impact. UWI placed 37th out of 129 universities rated overall.
UWI’s exceptional performance in these rankings is the result of a series of deliberate strategic initiatives advanced by UWI in the implementation of its Triple A Strategy (Strategic Plan 2017-2022), focussed on Access, Alignment, and Agility.
A high-spirited Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles commented: “Entering officially into the rankings for the first time required tremendous mobilisation of resolve and resources. While we are very pleased with our entry ranking, alongside the largest, wealthiest universities, private and public, in the biggest countries we recognise that we cannot rest on our laurels, not even for ten minutes, until we have reached top ten status in the next ten years. We know what we have to do and our team is getting on with it.”
Vice-Chancellor Beckles serves as the President of the Association of Caribbean Universities and Research Institutes (UNICA) with a remit to improve the regional and global standing of universities in the region. There are over 100 registered Caribbean universities.
He added, “As UWI sets its sights on the global university ranking to be released in September 2018 in Singapore, we note that radically our enhancing international reputation and status is our ultimate target.” (PR)
