The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus, located in Antigua and Barbuda, has kicked off the 2026 academic year with a historic milestone: its largest incoming class in campus history, with 587 new students joining the institution’s community. The record-breaking intake was officially announced by campus Registrar Dr. Camille Samuel during the annual matriculation ceremony, a traditional event that formalizes new students’ entry into the university.
Dr. Samuel emphasized to the assembled incoming students that this record is an unprecedented achievement for the campus, marking the highest number of new students admitted since the Five Islands Campus was founded. The incoming cohort includes both first-time university entrants and adult learners returning to pursue higher education after time away from schooling. Moving beyond the simple act of enrollment, Dr. Samuel framed matriculation as the starting point of full integration into campus life, noting that admission alone does not automatically create a sense of belonging. She urged new students to engage actively with the campus community and take advantage of all the opportunities that the UWI Five Islands experience offers, rather than focusing exclusively on earning a degree.
“Enrolment is not belonging. You have to do a little bit more than just turn up,” Dr. Samuel told the class. She also prepared students for the realities of university life, acknowledging that their journey would include unforeseen challenges, moments of uncertainty, and periods of self-doubt. To ease these potential struggles, she reassured students that comprehensive support systems are in place across the campus, including specialized student retention services, academic advising, and leadership that is accessible to all attendees. Highlighting the unique character of the Five Islands Campus, Dr. Samuel described it as a close-knit learning environment that fosters direct, personal connections between administrators, faculty, and students.
Beyond individual academic growth, the university aims to equip graduates to contribute meaningfully to the development of Antigua and Barbuda and the broader Caribbean region. Dr. Samuel encouraged students to prioritize attending classes, stay connected to university updates, and cultivate the core values that define a UWI graduate. This growing intake aligns with the Five Islands Campus’ ongoing expansion and strengthening of its role within the wider UWI system, which serves institutions across the Caribbean.
Campus Principal Professor C. Justin Robinson reminded new students that while they are studying at a campus based in Antigua and Barbuda, they are joining a regional university community that serves nearly 50,000 students across the Caribbean. “You don’t only join a campus in Antigua. You join the University of the West Indies,” Professor Robinson said. He highlighted that UWI is one of the Caribbean’s longest-standing and most influential regional institutions, and that this year’s incoming class is entering the campus at a pivotal moment for educational advancement in Antigua and Barbuda.
The matriculation ceremony concluded with formal formalities that cemented students’ place in the UWI community, including the recitation of the traditional academic vow by the entire incoming class. UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles formally recognized all students admitted to undergraduate degree, diploma, and certificate programs who had met all program requirements as duly matriculated members of the campus. The ceremony also honored Errolyn Tong, a native of St. Paul, Antigua, as the top incoming student for the 2026 cohort. Tong, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Management at the UWI Five Islands School of Business and Management, was selected to sign the official matriculation register on behalf of all new students, a symbolic act marking their formal entry into the university.
In closing, Dr. Samuel reiterated the significance of the historic intake, thanking all 587 students for selecting the Five Islands Campus to pursue their higher education. She framed the day as just the start of their lifelong connection to the UWI community, telling the assembled class: “This is just the beginning… you are now members of the university community for life.”