THE executive and senior management team of The University of West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, recently concluded an extensive retreat at The UWI’s Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory in St Ann, where several decisions were made to improve its financial viability.

The retreat served as a platform for critical discussions, aiming to address challenges faced by the institution and identify opportunities for growth and advancement aligned with the university’s 2022-2027 Triple A strategic plan “The Revenue Revolution”.
According to principal of The UWI Mona campus, Professor Densil Williams, the university is committed to securing a vibrant future by embarking on a transformative agenda that will pave the way for sustainable growth and development.
“We are excited to launch this ambitious initiative as it aligns with our vision of a global activist academy producing graduates who will contribute to the advancement of our society,” said Williams.

“This transformative agenda will not only enhance the quality of education and research at The UWI, Mona campus, but also drive innovation, encourage entrepreneurial activities, and foster partnerships for the betterment of our campus community and the wider society.
“Over the course of two days, the management engaged in intense deliberations, ultimately agreeing on a series of key initiatives to pursue in the short to medium term. These endeavours focus on overcoming challenges and transforming the campus into a dynamic and globally active academic institution, serving the needs of the community,” added Williams.
He said among the agreed agenda items to be pursued are a Liability Management Programme, which will see the introduction of a structured programme to stabilise cash flow, allowing for investment in transformational projects that will generate sustainable revenue in the long run.
In addition, the team has decided to introduce several long-term profitable projects, including the establishment of a Global Health Portfolio operating from the The UWI Western Jamaica campus.

This initiative will address the pressing need for health workers globally by offering training, research, and innovation in collaboration with respected international academic institutions.
The university is also to launch of a centre for the delivery of short-cycle courses which will provide people with an opportunity to enhance skills without pursuing degree programmes, this initiative will offer courses for lifelong learning with The UWI professional credit.
The creation of Knowledge Process Outsourcing Centres which will offer students an ecosystem to earn while they learn, thereby reducing financial burdens while supporting their academic studies, is also on the cards.

Williams added that an in-depth programme will be implemented to streamline processes and optimise human resources to align skill sets with the organisation’s objectives. This includes a comprehensive overhaul of the campus’s human resources architecture, ensuring accountability and efficiency as well as effective deployment of personnel.
He said a significant undertaking will involve the revitalisation of sports at Mona. This will encompass facility upgrades, curriculum development for academic purposes, and increased opportunities for recreational sports for students and staff.

According to Williams, each faculty presented exciting offerings aimed at revitalising the academic output of the campus.
These include the establishment of new departments, the development of new programmes for short-cycle courses and degree offerings, increased engagement with the community through reasoning sessions and advocacy, and the creation of state-of-the-art laboratories for market-driven testing in the sports sector.
The principal said the retreat has left The UWI, Mona campus team with renewed determination. (Jamaica Observer)