The University of the West Indies, originally University College of the West Indies, is a public university system established to serve the higher education needs of the residents of 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean.The UWI extends from Belize in Central America to Trinidad and Tobago in the southern Caribbean.
Starting as a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI has evolved into a modern, future-driven, activist, top-ranked academy with over 50,000 students. Our mission to advance learning, create knowledge and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean is centred on producing critical thinkers and leaders who serve the needs of the 21st century society.
Leading as an activist university
The UWI is an activist university with a mission to advance learning, create knowledge and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean and the wider world. The regional institution is an ideal partner for research collaboration, expert-knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement in a diverse range of Caribbean-focused development projects, initiatives and inter- institutional agreements with regional and international governments, multi-lateral development agencies, and the private sector. The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region.
The UWI is also a co-chair of the Hemispheric University Consortium (HUC), comprising 14 universities across Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States committed to sharing academic and infrastructure resources and collaborating in addressing the
challenges facing universities and global society, through a range of broad and dynamic key thematic areas with priority given to human prosperity and well-being, and climate change, sustainability and resilience.
