The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, yesterday reported that enrolment at the institution for the 2005-2006 year now stands at an all-time high of 15,398, representing a six per cent increase over the 2004-2005 academic year.

The proportion of students enrolled in first-degree programmes was 80 per cent to the 19 per cent of students in higher degree programmes, with the remaining one per cent comprising specially admitted students.

The enrolment figures were presented by principal of the Mona Campus, Professor Elsa Leo- Rhynie, at a meeting of the Mona Campus Council held recently. Campus Council heard that con-tinuing the established trend set in previous years, the Mona Campus surpassed the targeted 2.4 per cent of annual growth rate in enrolment projected in the University?s Strategic Plan 2002-2007.

As in previous years, the majority of students were enrolled in the Faculty of Social Sciences with approximately 7,029, Humanities and Education with some 4,398, Pure and Applied Sciences 2,080 and Medical Sciences 1,782.

Campus council members were informed that approximately 80 per cent of the 2005-06 students registered were engaged in on-campus, or face-to-face study. The remaining 20 per cent off-campus students received instruction through distance, online education or through tertiary institutions affiliated with the university. The majority or some 68 per cent of off-campus students pursued distance education programmes.