Global Partnerships
One of only two regional higher education institutions in the world, The UWI continues to leverage its reputational excellence to expand its global footprint. Beginning with the setting up of an Office of Global Affairs in 2016, The UWI sought to renew longstanding relationships and embarked on new partnerships at an unprecedented level.
Beyond teaching
To date, in addition to our five campuses in the Caribbean, The UWI system comprises 10 global centres across North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Beyond teaching, research and the production of knowledge, we’ve gone a step further to prioritise building global partnerships and connecting knowledge to opportunities for multi-stakeholder development solutions.
This is led by our Office of Global Partnerships and Sustainable Futures which also works to strengthen the university’s positioning and engagement with the 2030 global development agenda.
As an SDG-engaged university, global partnerships allow us to expand the opportunities available to our faculty and to our students, by joining forces with collaborators who are committed to Caribbean development.
Global centres
- UWI-China Institute of Information Technology (UWICIIT)
- SUNY-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development
- UNILAG-UWI Institute of African and Diaspora Studies
- Institute for Global African Affairs
- Strategic Alliance for Hemispheric Development
- UWI and Coventry Institute for Industry-Academic Partnership
- UWI-University of Havana Centre for Sustainable Development
- Canada-Caribbean Institute
- Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research
- UWI-European University Institute
- American Foundation for The University of the West Indies
UWI-China Institute of Information Technology (UWICIIT)
In 2016, a partnership between The UWI and Global Institute of Software Technology (GIST) based in Suzhou, China birthed the UWI-China Institute of Information Technology (UWICIIT).
The Institute offers a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering with a focus on mobile application technologies.
State University of New York (SUNY)-UWI Center for Leadership and Sustainable Development
Launched in 2016, the Center is motivated by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to achieve a better future for all by addressing serious global challenges of poverty, inequality, hunger, health, education, clean affordable energy, climate, environmental degradation,
sustainable communities, responsible consumption and other pressing sustainable development issues.
The Centre offers a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership for Sustainable Development designed to build human capacity within Caribbean Islands and New York State to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNILAG-UWI Institute of African and Diaspora Studies
In May 2017, The UWI and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in Nigeria signed an MOU for the establishment of the UNILAG-UWI Institute of African and Diaspora Studies. It features facilities based at both the
University of Lagos in south-western Nigeria and at The UWI Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica.
One of its first major initiatives is a Master's degree in African and Global Studies.
Institute for Global African Affairs
The Institute for Global African Affairs, launched in November 2018 is a collaboration between The UWI and the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.
A Masters in Global African Studies is the flagship academic programme for the Institute.
Strategic Alliance for Hemispheric Development
In April 2019 The UWI and Universidad de los Andes (UNIANDES) formalised the Strategic Alliance for Hemispheric Development which outlines collaboration for the development of postgraduate degrees,
certificates and other training programmes, and also for joint research in areas of mutual interest.
UWI and Coventry Institute for Industry-Academic Partnership
Responding to the economic growth needs of the Caribbean, The UWI and Coventry University in England launched a UWI-Coventry Institute for Industry-Academic Partnership in December 2019,
dedicated to the promotion of an innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem across the Caribbean region.
UWI-University of Havana Centre for Sustainable Development
Following some 30 years of collaboration The UWI and the University of Havana (UH) signed an agreement to establish a new and innovative,
joint Centre for the Sustainable Development of the Caribbean in December 2019.
Canada-Caribbean Institute
In February 2020, The UWI and Brock University (BU) launched the Canada-Caribbean Institute, devoted to the study of Canada-Caribbean relations. The new Institute is expected to provide multi-disciplinary
research and teaching to deepen and improve the relations between Canada and the Caribbean, and serve to examine issues affecting the Caribbean diaspora communities in Canada.
Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research
The GCCDR is a joint initiative between The UWI and the University of Glasgow, co-located in Glasgow and the Caribbean. Plans are underway for the joint offering of a Master of Arts Programme in Reparatory Justice.
In October 2020, The UWI, in partnership with the University of Glasgow launched a course on the History of Slavery in the British Caribbean on the FutureLearn platform.
UWI-European University Institute
In July 2020, The UWI and the European University Institute (EUI) agreed to the establishment of a research centre that will help to promote inter-regional and intra-regional development
and encourage discourse on how transnational and global issues impact the Caribbean region and Europe.
American Foundation for The University of the West Indies
A 501(c) (3) charitable organisation, the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) was established in 1956 to develop an endowment fund in the United States for The University of the West Indies (UWI). Today, its mission is to source and administer private donations, maximise philanthropic efforts, and develop strategic alliances with American corporations, foundations, alumni and other organisations, primarily to provide scholarships, support academic programmes and facilitate development projects at The UWI.
The Foundation has more recently intensified its focus on supporting the University’s scholarship programme because of the urgent and increasing demand for financial aid from many in the student population who are talented, ambitious and determined to break the cycle of poverty, but face severe economic hardships. In addition, the Foundation also seeks to facilitate activities which promote the well-being and strengthening of the West Indian society through community service, research programmes and public service endeavours for the preservation/creation of a robust cultural and social legacy.
UWI Global Online
Cognisant of the expectations and responsibilities placed on it as the region’s number one ranked higher education institution, The UWI seeks to extend its reach, granting access not just to participating Caribbean territories but to communities and partners across the world.
The UWI Global Online or the UWI GO initiative is a strategic objective to extend The UWI’s online programmes and courses to global markets. The Office of Online Learning is charged with the responsibility of leading the implementation of this initiative.
