In 2008, The University of the West Indies celebrated its 60th year of serving the region. That same year, the UWI also gave birth to the Open Campus which manifested the University's commitment to expand its range and reach to communities throughout the region.

Luz M. Longsworth

This mission was not a new one as the founding fathers of the UWI had clearly articulated from 1947 that the mandate of the UWI was to bring the University to the people. In pursuit of this mandate, the Extra Mural Studies Department (later renamed the School of Continuing Studies) was formed at the conception of the UWI. In the early 1980's, the UWI pioneered new distance education technologies such as audio conferencing through its UWIDITE (UWI Distance Teaching Experiment) programme which led to the development of UWIDEC (UWI Distance Education Centre) offering UWI degrees and certificates through the distance mode. These outreach arms, along with the Tertiary Level Institutions Unit, form the core of the Open Campus with the UWI pioneering an innovative and strategic thrust to expand access to Caribbean peoples in the region, the Diaspora and beyond.

The UWI Open Campus has 42 sites across the region in 16 countries including those with traditional campuses. In fulfilment of its promise of availability "Online, On Site and On Demand", these Sites serve as physical centres offering students support for the online programmes, a service that few online providers of education can boast. Given the uneven internet penetration in the English-speaking Caribbean, which ranges from as high as 75.9 % to a low of 18.3%, the Sites ensure that broadband access to the internet is available to students who may not have access to this technology at home or for whom the cost may be prohibitive.

Headed by senior academic and administrative personnel, Sites are available for academic counselling, tutorial support to supplement online programmes and assistance in accessing information on UWI programmes at all campuses.

On Site, there are face-to-face courses for those wishing to learn new skills, upgrade their current skills or for personal and professional interest. Along with a slate of programmes offered regionally, each UWI Open Campus Country Site has its own unique set of face-to-face and continuing education programmes and courses that are tailored to needs or developed on demand for the communities which the Site serves.
The development of the infrastructure as well as improvement of services and programmes are a priority for the Open Campus as we ensure high quality. The strategic placement of Sites therefore allows for student care and community access to be the central focus of the Open Campus strategy. With over 4,000 students online, and nearly 20,000 students in face-to-face or blended continuing education programmes across the region, the UWI Open Campus continues to build on the foundation laid 62 years ago - to take the University to the people.

-Press Release

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News