The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Professor C. Justin Robinson officially assumed the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Five Islands Campus this past Saturday. With a vision set on a transformative “Revenue Revolution,” Professor Robinson aims to position the university for financial sustainability and global competitiveness.
Addressing his colleagues at the inauguration ceremony, Professor Robinson emphasized the need for change and the embrace of a Revenue Revolution.
He acknowledged the difficulty of change, quoting an adage that suggests only babies with wet diapers welcome change willingly. Nevertheless, he stressed the imperative for both the institution and the region to adapt and thrive in the evolving landscape of higher education.“We must do this for ourselves and the region to execute on this Revenue Revolution so that we close the funding gap between what our governments can pay, what our students can pay, and what is required to fund a globally competitive University in the Caribbean,” Professor Robinson stated.
The key strategy outlined by the new Pro Vice-Chancellor involves a concept developed collaboratively between the Global Campus and regional headquarters.
This concept aims to market UWI’s products globally, with the university having successfully pitched it to international financial institutions.
Professor Robinson confidently expects to sign financing agreements and launch this initiative within the next few weeks.
The UWI’s push for financial sustainability extends to various campuses, each focusing on commercializing knowledge in different sectors. Professor Landis, for instance, leads a project on diabetes reversal at the St Augustine Campus, while Rosemary spearheads a cocoa commercialization project at the Mona Campus.
Additionally, PVC Williams is engaged in an innovative liabilities management exercise at the Five Islands Campus to free up cash for strategic endeavors.
Professor Robinson urged colleagues and leaders within The UWI to embrace these ventures, emphasizing the necessity of such initiatives for the institution’s continued excellence. He also extended an invitation to corporate leaders and civil society to join forces in crafting these ventures.
Expressing the urgency of his role, Professor Robinson sees financial sustainability as the foundation for the university’s future endeavors. He intends to instill a culture of financial independence at the Five Islands Campus, reducing reliance on government financing.
Regarding the choice of Antigua for the new landed campus, Professor Robinson highlighted two critical reasons – the need to move away from elitism and the creation of a critical mass of capable human resources to make a quantum leap in improving the quality of life in the Eastern Caribbean.
