Sir George Alleyne

Chancellor

Professor E. Nigel Harris

Vice Chancellor

Dear 2013 Graduate,

My warmest congratulations are extended to each member of the graduating class of 2013!  You are part of a global family of more than 120,000 UWI graduates who serve with distinction in almost every field.  It has been a collective journey to this day and we are delighted to celebrate your achievements with you, your families and loved ones.  We wish you the very best as you continue on your chosen paths and hope that you will remain engaged with your alma mater.

A central feature of the past two Strategic Plans of the UWI has been the redesign of curricula and a fundamental re-think of teaching methodologies to ensure that our students are equipped to deal with and ever changing environment.  The reality is that many of you may not work in the disciplines in which you have been trained and we hope that we have helped to prepare you to adapt easily to other careers.  It is quite possible that some of you will be working in careers that were not envisaged at the time you began your programme of study and we hope that some of you may go on to create new industries and jobs that will benefit future graduates.  Whatever path you pursue, do it well and in so doing, bring distinction to yourself, your families, your university, country and region.  

We have sought to provide a multi-cultural and diverse environment during your programme of study. We have sought to attract students from outside our region who wish to enjoy the warmth of the Caribbean while obtaining an education.  We hope that their presence has also benefitted our Caribbean students and broadened everyone’s cultural experiences.  I am sure that you have made good friends from across the Caribbean, learned a few things about the other countries that comprise the UWI family, perhaps visited at one or two other campuses or countries and added a few new phrases and expressions to your vocabulary.  That spirit of regionality is the bedrock of our University and I urge you to keep it firm in your hearts and minds.  The vision of regionalism has been a central element of our University since our formation in 1948 and it is through your efforts to keep it alive that this vision will continue to thrive. 

This is not goodbye!  As alumni we encourage you to mentor a student, contribute towards scholarships for bright but financially challenged students, advocate for your university in various fora, and stay in touch with us through the various social networking facilities that have been set up for this purpose. 

Today, we celebrate your achievements and the promise of even greater things to come.  We look forward to your continued involvement in this noble institution which has nurtured so many of us and has placed you on a path to success. 

Congratulations!