Left: Graduates from the Faculty of Humanities and Education enjoy the ceremony.   Right: Medical Sciences graduates applaud the achievements of their fellow graduates.

Thousands of persons turned out at the University of the West Indies annual graduation ceremonies, which were held off campus at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Friday, November 10, and Saturday, November 11, 2006.

The ceremonies celebrated the achievements of the largest ever graduating class from Mona.

Two thousand one hundred and fifty two graduates satisfied the requirements for the award of first degrees; 185 candidates were awarded diplomas and certificates, 680 Master's degrees, 27 Ph.Ds and 33DMs. Forty-four per cent of the first degrees were in the first-class or upper second-class category. As usual, all graduates did not attend the ceremonies.

Teachers excel

Sixty-two secondary school teachers completed a pilot bachelor of education degree programme, 14 with first-class honours. The teachers pursued the programme part time at UWIDEC sites while maintaining full-time positions in schools across the island.

Eighteen students completed for the first time the Master of Education in Literacy Studies and the first set of 13 graduates completed the requirements for the Master of Science in National Security and Strategic Studies.

The university conferred honorary degrees over the two ceremonies. The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on Colonel Collin L.G. Harris, who has had a distinguished career as a leader of a traditional Maroon community; Catholic priest, Father Richard Ho Lung best known for his work with the homeless and indigent through Missionaries of the Poor; Justice Dr. L. Dolliver Nelson was the Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; Professor Sydney Mintz, eminent anthropologist; and, Hon. Sir Colville N. Young, Governor- General of Belize.

UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor E. Nigel Harris, noted that over the past five years, the university's growth had been driven by its 2002-2007 Strategic Plan. He said that the strategic goal that had the most impact on Mona and other campuses was that of increased enrolment. During the years 2001-2007, Mona had grown from 8,856 to 12,562 students or 42 per cent, which he said was less than the percentage growth of the university as a whole where enrolment increased from 21,000 to in excess of 36,000, a 71 per cent expansion.

Potential benefits

The vice chancellor noted that the potential benefits to students and to our societies of such growth were enormous "for tertiary education brings the promise of a better educated workforce, spawning more creative ideas and innovation, ensuring cultural vitality of communities and enabling greater social cohesion and stability."

He said that to meet the needs of increased student numbers, all three campuses had embarked on vigorous capital development programmes. At Mona, the nnnex to the Administration Building that will house the Human Resource Division, and enable a one-stop service centre for students would be completed in the near future. There were also plans to expand and refurbish some student halls, as well as other buildings.

Employability skills

The vice chancellor noted that with respect to the enhancement of student services, one of the many exemplary programmes introduced at Mona during the past year was the so-called 'First Year Experience.' This programme designed specially for commuting students sought to enrich their cognitive, social and employability skills.

During the last academic year, Mona researchers received some J$158.5 million from national and regional institutions and from international agencies for a large number of research projects. Professor Harris said that he was pleased to note the efforts that the campus itself had taken to boost research despite its scarce resources. In the past year, funds were made available on a competitive basis to 26 members of the academic staff for new projects, an additional five for special initiatives and for dozens of other academic staff members to enable publication of research findings and the purchase of equipment and supplies.

Left: Father Richard Ho Lung delivers the graduation address at the Graduation Ceremony on Friday, November 10.   Right: Some 680 persons received higher degrees, 27 of these being Ph.Ds and 33 DMs.