An air of optimism pervaded the Council Room as delegates to the annual business meeting of University Council, held on Friday, 27 April 2012, listened to the leadership of the 63 year-old institution give account of their stewardship over the 2010/2011 academic year. Despite the hostile economic climate and the financial challenges facing the UWI the Vice-Chancellor’s Report as well as the  reports emanating from the four campuses focussed on the many positive achievements, not least of which was the growth in the number of graduates produced each year. Advances made in research into issues common to the Caribbean region in a wide range of disciplines, the positive response to changes in the needs of its major stakeholders through curriculum development and the widening of academic programme options, the steady increases in enrolment and significant upgrade of the physical infrastructure were cited as sure indicators that the institution would not only survive the turbulent economic times but would continue to strengthen and further enhance its reputation.

In the words of one Government Representative, “The UWI is the best legacy that West Indians have received and it is deserving of continued support”. It was conceded, however, that the UWI could do a better job of connecting with the ordinary man in the street, so that every West Indian would understand the import and impact of the regional institution. The meeting of Council, chaired by the Chancellor, Sir George Alleyne, dealt with a number of matters including approval of financial reports, tuition fees for the coming academic year, the appointment of Deans and several Senior Managers, endorsement of recommendations for the award of honorary degrees and approval of the Strategic Plan to guide the institution for the next five-year period. The meeting was to have been held in the spanking new UWI Regional Headquarters building on Hermitage Road in Mona, Kingston but due to the fact that the building was not quite ready, Council was hosted, as it has done most often in the past, by the Mona Campus.