Over the past ten years, the Alumni Office of The University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus has built a decades-long legacy of empowering young people across the Caribbean and beyond, marking a major milestone of sustained excellence in youth-focused development work.
Founded a decade ago with a clear mission to bridge the gap between graduating students and professional opportunities, the office has evolved far beyond its initial scope. What began as a small team focused on basic networking has grown into a comprehensive support system that nurtures young talent from their first year of study through their early career trajectories. Leveraging the vast network of over 50,000 UWI Global Campus alumni spread across 60+ countries, the office has designed a suite of targeted programs that address the most pressing barriers young people face in entering today’s competitive workforce.
Key initiatives include structured mentorship pairings that connect early-career young graduates with seasoned industry professionals, annual youth leadership summits that bring together emerging changemakers from across the region, and seed grant programs that support young entrepreneurs turning their innovative ideas into sustainable businesses. To date, the office has facilitated more than 3,000 mentorship matches, distributed over $2 million in startup funding for youth-led ventures, and helped more than 12,000 young people secure full-time employment or advance their academic journeys.
Regional education leaders note that the office’s work fills a critical gap in Caribbean higher education. Many small island developing states in the region struggle with high youth unemployment and brain drain, as young talent often leaves for opportunities in North America and Europe. By creating tangible local opportunities and fostering a culture of alumni giving back, the UWI Global Campus Alumni Office has helped retain thousands of young professionals in the region, contributing to local economic growth and community development.
In a statement marking the 10th anniversary, Director of the UWI Global Campus Alumni Office highlighted that the milestone is as much a tribute to the alumni community as it is a celebration of the office’s work. “Our success has always depended on the willingness of graduates to lift the next generation up,” she said. “For ten years, alumni have given their time, their resources, and their expertise to help young people navigate the transition from education to career. That culture of support is what has made our work so impactful.”
Looking ahead, the office has announced an expanded five-year strategy that will introduce new digital mentorship platforms to reach remote young learners across smaller island territories, expand the seed grant program to focus on climate tech and sustainable development ventures, and partner with regional governments to develop national youth employment frameworks. The goal, leaders say, is to double the number of young people served over the next decade and solidify the program as a model for alumni-led youth development across the global higher education landscape.