News
Five to be Conferred with Honorary Degrees at UWI Graduation 2009
Five honorary degrees will be conferred at the UWI, Mona graduation ceremonies which are being staged in three sessions, Friday, November 6 at 5:30 pm and Saturday, November 7 at 10 am and 5:30 pm. Recipients of honorary degrees are the Honourable John Issa, Mr. John Maxwell, the Honourable Oliver F. Clarke, Dr. Anne Walmsley and Professor Colin A Palmer.
At the Ceremony on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 5:30 pm Honourable Oliver F. Clarke, Chairman and Managing Director of the Gleaner Company will receive a Doctor of Laws degree. He is often credited with turning one of the oldest newspaper publishers in the region into a very successful media enterprise. He is the recipient of Jamaica’s prestigious national honour, the Order of Jamaica.
Children Speak Out at Caribbean Child Research Conference
For the first time in the four-year history of the Caribbean Child Research Conference, only children will take the podium at the one-day confab on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, to present their research on a wide range of issues affecting children.
The Honourable Prime Minister Bruce Golding will deliver the keynote address at the conference, which is being held under the theme Global Crises: The Impact on Our Children – Twenty Years After the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
Strengthening Capacity for Project Management in Health Research
The World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO) and the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), in collaboration with the UWI’s Clinical Epidemiology Unit (UWI-CEU), will host “Planning for Success” - a four day training workshop in project management for 12 researchers and research administrators from November 3 – 6, 2009. The activities are in line with the recently approved PAHO Policy on Research for Health that promotes strengthening skills and capacities for the research for health workforce.
UWI Open Campus Inducts its First Principal
On Friday, October 16, 2009, the first Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor of the Open Campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Hazel Simmons-McDonald, will be formally inducted. The induction ceremony for the Saint Lucian-born Principal, will take place in her homeland on the grounds of Government House at 6:00 p.m., under the patronage of the Governor General of Saint Lucia, Her Excellency, Dame Dr. Pearlette Louisy.
Top Student Chooses UWI
First year student in the Faculty of Law, Miss Kerri-Ann Allen, was named the Matriculant for the 2009-2010 academic year at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus and was chosen to sign the register on behalf of all new students entering Mona this academic year. The signing took place at the Welcome and Symbolic signing of the Matriculation Register held at the University Chapel last Sunday, October 4.
Normal Operations Resume At The UWI, Mona
Normal operations will resume at The University of the West Indies, (UWI) Mona Campus effective tomorrow, Thursday, September 17, 2009. This follows the lifting of the restriction on social activities which had been imposed in the wake of an outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) on the campus.
The University Health Centre has indicated that the situation continues to improve with a significant decline in the number of persons presenting with flu like symptoms on a daily basis. Further, most affected persons have presented with mild flu-like symptoms and the majority have had a full recovery within 36-hours.
UWI Activities Postponed For Four More Days
The University of the West Indies, (UWI) Mona is continuing to monitor the situation in light of the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) on the campus. At a meeting of the monitoring committee held on Friday, September 11, 2009, it was noted that most affected persons have presented with mild flu-like symptoms and that the majority have had a full recovery within 36-hours.
The committee also heard that there has been a decline in the number of persons presenting with flu like symptoms on a daily basis. However the University Health Centre has advised that the decline is not yet to the point of zero (0) new suspected cases.
Cancellation/Postponement of all Social Events on the UWI, Mona Campus
In light of the confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) at The University of the
West Indies, Mona Campus, and further to the decision to cancel or postpone all social events scheduled to take place at the campus, for the next seven days, the University community is being reminded that all social events planned by staff, students, groups or individuals should not be held during the period September 5 – 11, 2009. The community is also advised that the Matriculation and Welcome Ceremony planned for Thursday, September 10 at 4:00pm has been postponed until further notice.
Update On The Influenza A (H1n1) Outbreak On The UWI, Mona Campus
On Monday, September 07, 2009, 32 new cases of persons with mild flu-like symptoms were reported to the University Health Centre from all six halls of residence. The affected persons have received treatment from the University Health Centre and are being monitored by the health personnel.
In order to ensure that the situation does not escalate and to minimise the risk of infection, members of the university community are reminded that while classes will be held as scheduled, all functions, whether organized by the Administration, members of staff or students, have been postponed for the rest of this week until Saturday, September 12, 2009. At that time, the situation will be reviewed to determine how we should proceed.
UWI Monitoring H1N1 Outbreak: Classes Begin Monday, September 7
In light of the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Principal, Professor Gordon Shirley met with members of the Campus administration on Sunday, September 6, 2009, to assess the situation and determine the way forward.
The meeting was attended by the Director of Student Services, Student Services Managers of the six halls of residence at Mona, the Director of the University Health Centre, the Head of the Department of Community Health & Psychiatry, the Professor of Public Health, the Head of the Department of Microbiology and the President of the Guild of Students.
Three Cases of H1N1 Identified at UWI, Mona
The University of the West Indies, Mona has identified three confirmed cases of Influenza A (HINI) among members of the student population. The affected persons and others with flu-like symptoms have been isolated. The Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health has visited the Campus and instituted the necessary public health measures.
As a precaution and containment measure, The UWI, Mona advises any member of staff or student who may have symptoms of influenza to stay home and to contact the nearest health practitioner. They should not to report to the Campus until they have been properly assessed.
UWI awards US$ 77,500 in scholarships to Jamaican students
Nine Jamaican nationals were recently awarded scholarships valued at a total of US$ 77,500 to study at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. The students enrolled in the Faculties of Pure and Applied Science, Medical Sciences and Social Sciences, are Anne Teresa Birthwright, Mele-a Campbell, Amoako St. Patrick Evans, Felisha Henry, Shanique Sterling, Samantha Christie, Shaneek Findlay, Adrian Stephens and Pettia Gay Williams.
Former Deputy Head Boy at St. Jago High School, 20-year old Amoaka St. Patrick Evans, who is one of the only two male scholarship winners, says that this scholarship will help him fulfill his “desire to be an inspiration in the field of medicine to other young people especially the males throughout the Jamaican society
Arabic Translation for UWI Drama Lecturer
Planning Process Drama, a book co-authored by UWI Senior Lecturer and Staff Tutor in Drama, Brian Heap, and Pamela Bowell, Research Fellow at Kingston University, United Kingdom, has recently been translated into Arabic.
Planning Process Drama was first published in 2001 and has since become required reading in Drama courses in Universities and Colleges of Education worldwide and is one of the prescribed texts for the Masters Degree in Educational Theatre at New York University.
UWI Seminar Series Addresses Economic Challenges Facing Jamaica
The University of the West Indies, Mona last Wednesday, August 26, 2009, launched a series of breakfast seminars with the theme Economic Challenges and Opportunities for the Nation (ECON). The series is being hosted by the Office of the Principal and the Department of Economics, as a means of facilitating constructive engagement with a broad cross-section of Jamaican society to address issues of fundamental economic importance to the nation.
Engineering Programmes to be offered at UWI Mona
The University of the West Indies, (UWI) Mona will begin offering a programme of study leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Electronics Engineering effective September 2009. The programme will be offered through the Electronics Unit of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences at Mona.
Additional programmes including Renewable Energy, Energy Management & Engineering and Biomedical Engineering are expected to come on stream in 2010. Preparation of Jamaican students for advanced placement in traditional engineering programmes, i.e. Power Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering will be also facilitated at the Mona Campus.
Obama To Honour UWI Mona Graduate
UWI graduate and Trustees Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Patricia Martin DeLeon, will receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, at a ceremony to be held at the White House later this year. The Presidential Award is presented annually to individuals or organizations in recognition of the crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering and who belong to minorities that are underrepresented in those fields.
MONA PRINCIPAL APPOINTED AS MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF JAMAICA
The University of the West Indies, Mona extends warmest congratulations to our Principal, Professor the Hon. Gordon Shirley, who has been appointed a member of the Order of Jamaica for excellence in academic and public service.
Congratulations are also extended to two other members of the University community who have received awards: renowned poet and professor emeritus Mervyn Morris, who has been conferred with the nation’s third highest honour, the Order of Merit, for his distinguished contribution in the field of West Indian Literature and retired professor John Homi,who has been named to the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (Honorary) for his contribution to the development of Anaesthesia Services and training in the Caribbean.
