Vice Chancellor for the University of the West Indies Sir Hilary Beckles says the Caribbean region has the lowest enrolment rates of tertiary education in the Western Hemisphere.
The University of the West Indies held its 2025 Annual University Council Meeting on Friday at the UWI St. Augustine Campus.
As he addressed the annual meeting, Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles shared some significant statistics.
“We have to keep growing, and why do we have to keep growing? Because we are not in a comfortable space. Less than 15% of our school leavers go on to university. This is far too low. In fact, it is the lowest ratio in our hemisphere. We need to have up to 30, 40%.”
Sir Hilary noted the region’s governments once provided 90% of the academic institution’s operational budget.
“We have experienced, as a result of that, a shortfall in our budgetary processes. And this is significant. This is significant. The governments have been carrying this university from the very beginning. In the year in review, the governments have been funding 48% of our operational cost.”
The Vice Chancellor said changes were ahead for the university, including how it bestows degrees.
“UWI granting degrees on behalf of the British monarchy. That royal charter can be revoked. I do not know what circumstance it will take for a revocation of that royal charter, but theoretically, legally, it can be revoked. And if it is revoked, UWI would not exist.”
Investment, education reform, and the continued existence of the UWI were just some of the topics that occupied the University Council this morning.