The University of the West Indies (UWI) has marked a significant milestone in its academic calendar with the formal installation of 37 distinguished scholars to professorial positions. This celebratory event, held on November 17, 2023, at the regional university’s St. Augustine campus in Trinidad and Tobago, honored excellence across a diverse spectrum of disciplines, with a pronounced emphasis on Science, Technology, Economics, and Innovation.
The ceremony, a cornerstone of academic recognition, saw the elevation of faculty members to the ranks of Professor, Clinical Professor, and Professor Emeritus. Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles presided over the event, lauding the appointees for their profound contributions to knowledge creation and their pivotal role in addressing complex regional and global challenges. He emphasized that these appointments are not merely personal achievements but are vital to strengthening the university’s research infrastructure and its capacity for innovation.
The newly appointed professors represent a wide array of fields, including Medical Sciences, Economics, Engineering, Agriculture, and the Humanities. Their collective research portfolio addresses critical areas such as sustainable development, public health, digital transformation, and economic policy for small island developing states. This strategic investment in top-tier academic leadership is viewed as a direct reinforcement of UWI’s mandate to drive developmental solutions for the Caribbean community and enhance its standing as a premier global institution.