The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus held its Annual Business Meeting of the Campus Council recently, under the theme ‘Recentring to the Core: Securing Mona’s Future’.

The meeting, led by Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Densil A. Williams, spotlighted the institution’s major strides in academic reform, financial restructuring, student support, and infrastructure development over the past year, while laying out an ambitious agenda for transformation in the year ahead.

Professor Williams, in presenting the 2023/2024 campus report, affirmed that UWI Mona is actively responding to regional and global shifts in higher education with a clear and pragmatic strategy. “We are firmly committed to securing Mona’s future by investing in high-quality human capital, building world-class infrastructure, and deepening partnerships that support our mission,” he said. “There is no better way to achieve economic transformation than through a strong, productive labour force. This is the vision Mona is working towards.”

Among the standout achievements of the past academic year were the strengthening of the Mona Office for Research and Innovation (MORI), the establishment of a dedicated Business Development Office and a new Office of Strategic Planning and Enterprise Management, each designed to enhance research output, entrepreneurship, and administrative efficiency.

Support for students remained a top priority, with the campus investing in upgraded multi-media teaching spaces and renovated residence halls. Significant contributions from partners, such as J$500,000 toward the UWI Food Grant Programme and medical equipment valued at J$1.9 million donated to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), underscored UWI Mona’s commitment to student welfare and community health. Engineering students also benefited from scholarships awarded through collaboration with Marubeni Corporation and technology donations from the National Water Commission.

The campus community celebrated academic excellence with Mona’s Debating Team winning the Inter-Campus Postgraduate Debating Competition for the seventh consecutive year, and student Nile Anderson being named Jamaica’s 2024 Rhodes Scholar. These achievements reflect a campus culture of leadership, critical thinking, and global readiness.

Strategic partnerships have also been key to UWI Mona’s forward momentum. The campus signed a Memoranda of Understanding with institutions including the University of Alabama, University of South Florida, SUNY Buffalo, and the University of Botswana. These collaborations will foster faculty and student exchanges, research projects, and the development of a Centre of Excellence in Comprehensive Evidence-Based Cancer Care.

On the financial front, the university reported progress in revenue diversification and operational efficiency. Through redesigned administrative processes, the institution projects over J$65 million in efficiency gains. Key improvements included a 39% reduction in turnaround time for areas such as payments and recruitment, with 23% of process steps now automated and standardized.

Looking to the future, the campus is preparing to launch a series of capital development projects. These include a new Faculty of Engineering building, a renovated Main Library, upgraded campus entrances, and a major expansion of the Western Jamaica Campus with the introduction of a new School of Global Health. These projects reflect a bold investment in infrastructure aligned with the university’s strategic goals.

Curriculum reform also remains central to the campus’ future direction, with efforts focused on student-centred learning, workforce readiness, and the integration of research and innovation into teaching. The emphasis is on building a dynamic, modern university that meets the evolving needs of students, industries, and the wider Caribbean community.

Professor Williams closed the meeting with a powerful reaffirmation of UWI Mona’s mission. “As we re-centre our campus to its core business, our achievements over the past year build a solid foundation to tackle new challenges. We are committed to creating an outcome-driven, action-oriented institution that serves our students and the Caribbean community with excellence.”

The Annual Business Meeting of the Council served as both a reflection on remarkable progress and a forward-looking declaration of purpose, grounded in innovation, resilience, and the pursuit of academic and operational excellence.