By Floyd French
Observer Reporter
(Basseterre, St. Kitts) – Officials from the University of the West Indies formally inaugurated the UWI Open Campus to modernise the university distance education programme. The first meeting of the Open Campus Council took place on Mar. 3 at the University Centre in Basseterre and culminated with a cocktail at Ocean Terrace Inn.
The UWI Open Campus is not only a change of name for UWI’s distance education facility, but it is also a change in the mode of delivery. Traditionally, the UWI Centres in non-campus territories provided face-to-face instruction. The Open Campus will now combine online teaching and learning with face-to-face instruction.
According to Chairman of the Open Campus Council, Sir Dwight Venner, “the Open Campus is the latest initiative of the university in its 60th year. This is going to make a tremendous difference not only to the university community but to all the communities outside the campus territories and indeed the campus territories as well.”
Similarly, Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor E. Nigel Harris said the Open Campus would “provide a variety of opportunities for students of all ages to obtain a high quality education.” He added that the online mode of delivery would give people of various backgrounds the chance to get a first degree or upgrade their qualifications through a number of professional courses.
Minister of Education, Hon. Sam Condor congratulated the University on this important milestone in its continued thrust to provide a Caribbean education for Caribbean people and the entire world. The Minister also recognised the contribution of the late former Minister of Education Mr. Clarence Fitzroy Bryant.
Mr. Bryant was instrumental in successful negotiations with the University of the West Indies to provide learning centres in non-campus territories, the Caribbean islands excluding Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados. The importance of these countries to the University has led to the coinage of the term “UWI-12” instead of the term “non-campus territories,” which seem to reduce their significance.
This year the University of the West Indies celebrates its 60th anniversary and a number of activities are taking place, throughout the year, on a number of islands including the UWI-12.
“St. Kitts, that historical place has now had another historic occasion,” said Sir Dwight.
