The University of the West Indies

[BlackCryptoKnight]

It's about time for a thread about UWI. :D

What do you all think about UWI (whichever campus - Cave Hill, St. Augustine, or Mona). Is UWI adequately meeting the educational needs of our Caribbean scholars? What does UWI need to do to raise the bar even higher?

[AngelsKiss]

Are they adequately meeting the educational needs? I doubt it since we have had so many other Universities coming in and offering degree programs. Is it bad we have outside universities? Not necessarily since it provides competition and which in turn hopeefully will cause them to raise the bar.

[Chicokid]

Is it true that UWI is only recognised in the Caribbean and not internationally :icon_ques

[AngelsKiss]

Is it true that UWI is only recognised in the Caribbean and not internationally :icon_ques
Not true...if this was the case then students would not be acceptable at other universities.

[Drew]

uwi's problem is space. alot of potential students are turned down every year because they have no space to take them. then what the university does is make it tougher for people to get in, by trying to raise the bar before you can enter the school. and even though u might meet the tougher requirements, its still hell to get into the school.

another problem with uwi is the lack of hands on experience that the students are getting, its just not really preparing the students for the real world.

we need the overseas schools to come in to help the mass that aren't getting into uwi, utech etc.

[Juliet]

UWI needs to enhance their ability to produce creative thinkers in the caribbean. Some would argue that people are coming out of UWI without the ability to challenge current thought and develop new strategies for development in the caribbean. Students are being spoon fed on a regular basis. At matriculation it is advocated by the unversity's big wigs that we should constructively challenge what lecturers say. Even that can prove to be a highly futile attempt depending on who you lecturer because he/ she doesnt want to get 'shown up'. Producing creative thinkers also speaks to the aspect of research. We need to do more research in the caribbean and decrease the use of foreign research findings as our measuring stick. It is my hope that UWI promotes this avenue in the near future.

[Jae]

U.W.I gimme alot of headache, nearly make mi have body come dung first year. Administration lacking in certain area. But I had a really good time, parties were great. And I learnt alot inside and outside of class.

[Manu]

uwi's problem is space. alot of potential students are turned down every year because they have no space to take them. then what the university does is make it tougher for people to get in, by trying to raise the bar before you can enter the school. and even though u might meet the tougher requirements, its still hell to get into the school.

another problem with uwi is the lack of hands on experience that the students are getting, its just not really preparing the students for the real world.

we need the overseas schools to come in to help the mass that aren't getting into uwi, utech etc.


Hmm....spoken like a true outsider :rolleyes:

Anyways....UWI lets in just about anyone these days once you've passed your A"Level and able to pay the 120,000+ school fee. UWI lacks quality lecturers. I don't take away from their knowlegde in a partcular subject area but their ability to impart their knowledge is less than desirable. Hands on experience is the least. We get alot of that. Just don't know what to do and how. It's like being given a plane to fly and expected to figure the controls in mid-flight then after you have gained some sort of insight on your own....it's time to land..which is the biggest challenge for any pilot.

[Juliet]

Hmm....spoken like a true outsider :rolleyes:

Anyways....UWI lets in just about anyone these days once you've passed your A"Level and able to pay the 120,000+ school fee. UWI lacks quality lecturers. I don't take away from their knowlegde in a partcular subject area but their ability to impart their knowledge is less than desirable. Hands on experience is the least. We get alot of that. Just don't know what to do and how. It's like being given a plane to fly and expected to figure the controls in mid-flight then after you have gained some sort of insight on your own....it's time to land..which is the biggest challenge for any pilot.


So true, so very very true...
I cant complain becuase the degree I did required practicum for all of my three years there- so I got a lot of hands on experience. Unfortunately there were courses within that degree that required a lot more than taking notes at the speed of light to really say that one was was proficient in that area. Others institutions recognise this pitfall and make note of it when hiring.

[BlackCryptoKnight]

How is the competition from the other tertiary institutions being setup in the region impacting on UWI?

[rodalembs]

UWI needs to enhance their ability to produce creative thinkers in the caribbean.

Juilet....i am suprised at this statement, I could not fault UWI on this..Some of the brightest minds in the region past and present are UWI graduates. I think you is one instituition that you really still have to read for the degree (as against alot of hands on work). Critical/creative thinking is something that the individual has to desire.

[rodalembs]

How is the competition from the other tertiary institutions being setup in the region impacting on UWI?

I think the competition is good, it opens avenues for the demand for tertiary education. Especailly for working adults. It is a fact that the university cannot grow the phyisical campus at the rate of demand for education. Consider this, research is a significant part of a nations or the regions development and UWI is still unquestionalby the premier research facility in the region. Most of the colleges come out are delivering the popular stuff. IT, Business Ad, etc etc..are they involved in research?:icon_ques Research is a significant indicator of a university stocks. As such UWI stands supreme. (Note..this is not a shameless plug, as i only did my first degree there, and did post grad work at a overseas school):)

[BlackCryptoKnight]

I think the competition is good, it opens avenues for the demand for tertiary education. Especailly for working adults. It is a fact that the university cannot grow the phyisical campus at the rate of demand for education. Consider this, research is a significant part of a nations or the regions development and UWI is still unquestionalby the premier research facility in the region. Most of the colleges come out are delivering the popular stuff. IT, Business Ad, etc etc..are they involved in research?:icon_ques Research is a significant indicator of a university stocks. As such UWI stands supreme. (Note..this is not a shameless plug, as i only did my first degree there, and did post grad work at a overseas school):)

Is UWI doing enough research though? Are they attracting enough corporate sponsorship for commercially viable research projects? Are they doing enough to foster growth in the technology and sciences where this is concerned?

[BlackCryptoKnight]

Interestingly, I saw this document - a strategic management report on UWI Mona (http://www.mona.uwi.edu/notices/2006/monastrategicengagementreport.pdf) on the UWI Mona website. Apparently various entities on campus, and off campus were polled for their views on how UWI is performing, and what needs to be done to improve. It makes for good reading.