British Virgin Islands: The University of the West Indies (UWI) is attempting to have students from the BVI pursue studies at any of its three campuses instead of choosing to do so at Universities or Colleges in the USA or the UK, but the students seem to have already made up their minds to attend Universities in the UK and the US and not the University of the West Indies, according to a BVInews.com report.
The UWI, which has campuses in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados, has two officials, Rosanna John and Dillan Martin, from the Cave Hill Campus, who are in the BVI holding talks with students at Secondary schools and at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.
Speaking on last week’s radio programme, Umoja, John said they are here “to promote UWI as a first choice for University education for the persons of the BVI…The first place we went to was the Elmore Stoutt High School and spoke to first to third forms. The University of the West Indies education was not at the forefront of their minds but we just wanted to let them know that there is University education available here in the Caribbean. We also spoke to forms 4 and 5 and there we gave more details about entry requirements. We also spoke to students at Cedar School International and also to students at the HLSCC where we spoke to a group of students in a more informal setting in the lunch room. At that point it seems that the students had already made up their minds that a Caribbean education was not for them. It was a bit disappointing because it seems to be this attitude that things that come from here aren’t good enough. It was really disappointing …,’ John said.
The BVInews.com report stated that Martin said students who go to UWI have many advantages. He said the University of the West Indies has seven faculties, and out of these faculties there are in excess 800 different programmes. He said there are quite a number of notable alumni who have attended the University of the West Indies and have distinguished themselves in a number of fields. He made mention of Premier Dr. Orlando Smith and Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering.
He said the university has distinguished itself with respect to its education programme. Martin said there is also the holistic experience where the student can be engaged in a number of activities including sports and a number of other societies and clubs students can be involved in – Law Society, the Medical Sciences Group, Island Associations so there are a lot the student can do to develop and experience the UWI experience.
“We are aware that it’s common for students here to go to the US or the UK, but what we are trying to demonstrate is that an indigenous education, a Caribbean education is equal, if not better than an international one. We just want to inform the people of the BVI that UWI is a viable option for higher education,” John said.
You must be logged in to post a comment.