Top ranking for UWI

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has once again been recognized as one of the top universities in the world.

The regional university, previously ranked in the top 2.5 per cent of the best universities globally has now leap-frogged its way into the top 1.5 per cent according to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.

During a virtual media briefing this afternoon Vice-Chancellor of the UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, lauded the university’s recent accomplishment while pointing out that the UWI has continued to improve annually since making its debut on the rankings table.

Sir Hilary said the UWI was the top university in the Caribbean and among the top one per cent of universities in Latin America and the region.

“When we debuted in the global rankings we came in at the top four per cent of all the finest universities in the world and we have been steadily improving on our performance and this ranking assessment gives a pretty good idea as to how we have been achieving the objectives, not only internally but the objectives that are considered standard for the best universities in the world,” Sir Hilary noted.

“In these 2022 performance results we have soared. We had a tremendous leap upwards in respect to where we are today and using the base of 30,000 universities in the world and research institutes that offer degree programmes that we are now propelled into the top 1.5 per cent of the best and finest universities in the world.

“This puts the UWI in a position to declare its global excellence. The statistical data now supports this position very clearly. It is not just a self-assessment of the UWI, it’s an assessment of the world,” he added.

Sir Hilary said any student leaving the UWI as a graduate could “walk into any university in the world.”

He described it as a “tremendous, tremendous achievement.”

However, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic, Industry Partnerships and Planning, Professor Densil Williams revealed that the one area where the UWI fell down the rankings was industry income.

He said this meant there was a need for governments, the private sector and alumni to invest more in the UWI’s five campuses across the region.

“It suggests, therefore, that we have to forge greater relationships with our private sector and our private sector has to invest much more in research and development,” Professor Williams said.

“Similarly, our governmental partners, our multilateral partners, our alumni and all stakeholders will have to invest in our university to ensure we continue producing globally-respected research which is transforming our societies today. Without this we will not be able to maintain our elite status for long.”

Sir Hilary said with the UWI approaching its 75th anniversary in the next two years, it was aiming for an even higher ranking. (RB)