Latest news with #UWI
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- General
- TimesLIVE
Caribbean intellectual Prof David Scott brings Small Axe and big questions to South Africa
For JIAS, Small Axe is more than a journal; it's a partner in a broader intellectual project. The University of Johannesburg enjoys a close relationship with the University of the West Indies (UWI). Collis-Buthelezi hopes to deepen ties through joint projects with Small Axe and UWI's international school for developmental justice. 'It's about circulating key thinkers today and germinating ideas. We want South-South exchanges to be robust, to be led from places such as Johannesburg, Kingston, Accra. Not dictated by old colonial metropoles.' For younger academics, the events underscore the unglamorous but vital work of building the intellectual community. 'The work of building a journal is about commitment, rigour and care and making space for voices that might otherwise never be heard,' Scott told workshop participants. Collis-Buthelezi hopes that message resonates. 'This is the time to hold ground for each other and for forms of academic freedom that enable ethical life for all,' she said. Scott's visit, with its mix of public engagement and behind-the-scenes editorial work, offered a glimpse of the future JIAS envisions, where new ideas emerge from sustained conversations across oceans, disciplines and histories. In a city built on gold, this is the other sort of treasure Johannesburg can offer: a space where thinkers meet, challenge each other and decide together what the next questions should be.
Mail & Guardian
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Professor Sir Hilary Beckles receives honorary doctorate from NWU
Professor Sir Hilary Beckles. On Wednesday, 30 July, the North-West University (NWU) conferred an honorary doctorate on Professor Sir Hilary McDonald Beckles, a distinguished Caribbean historian and vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI). The award recognises Sir Hilary's formidable academic contributions and his global advocacy for social justice. On the evening before the ceremony, he delivered a public lecture, titled: 'From Durban to Accra: Rise of the Global Reparations Movement'. The honorary doctorate – Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) in History – from the NWU's Faculty of Humanities, stands as a testament to Beckles' lifelong effort to use history as a tool for healing and reform. Beckles described the honorary doctorate as a deeply personal honour. 'This feels like a validation of my life's work,' he said. 'As a teenager in the UK, I was actively involved in the anti-apartheid and Free Nelson Mandela campaigns. I've always been philosophically opposed to injustice. I'm a humanist, and I believe in humanity at its best.' Beckles recalled meeting Steve Biko in Zambia as a student. 'I expressed concern for his safety, and he told me that if I ever had a son, I might name him after him. He lost his life, and I honoured that legacy. My son's name is Biko.' Reflecting on the honorary doctorate, he added: 'To be here, decades later, nearing the end of my career, it means everything. It fills me with joy and gratitude.' Beckles is not merely a chronicler of the past. With over 100 peer-reviewed articles, 20 academic books and his role as editor of UNESCO's General History of Africa, he has helped reshape scholarly and public understanding of the Atlantic slave trade, colonialism and Caribbean identity. Cricket, too, has served as a site of analysis and advocacy. From 2007 to 2013, he was a member of the West Indies Cricket Board, engaging with the sport both intellectually and institutionally. Yet it is his work beyond the classroom and archive that distinguishes Beckles. As chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission, he has translated historical insight into political action. His efforts have prompted governments – including the Netherlands – to issue formal apologies for their colonial histories. He has also influenced initiatives such as the US House of Representatives' HR 40 Bill, and contributed to the African Union's upcoming 2025 'Year of Reparations' and the proposal for an international reparations tribunal. Under his leadership, the University of the West Indies has expanded its global footprint, attaining 'triple first' status in 2020: first in the Caribbean, among the top 1% of universities in Latin America, and in the top 1% of institutions worldwide aged between 50 and 80 years. His vision has included the creation of 10 international centres from Africa to Asia, and the launch of platforms such as UWITV. The Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda stands as a tangible legacy of this expansive strategy. Beckles' many accolades include a knighthood from Barbados, the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Award for Social Justice, and designation as the American Historical Association's 2022 Honorary Foreign Member. 'We are honoured to have conferred an honorary doctorate upon Professor Sir Hilary Beckles – a distinguished scholar and public intellectual whose life's work is a masterclass in using academic inquiry as a force for societal transformation. As vice-chancellor of the UWI, chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission and chairman of the United Nations University, to name but a few roles, Sir Hilary has brought academia to the service of justice, championing reparatory redress as both a moral imperative and an economic necessity,' said Professor Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU. • Find attach a voice recording of Sir Hilary on receiving his honorary doctorate. • Follow the link to the article here: • Watch a video of the event as well as an interview with Sir Hilary below:
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EarlyHealth Group and UWI Launch Breakthrough Research Partnership to Tackle Caribbean Genetic Disorders
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EarlyHealth Group (EHG), a global pharmaceutical company, and The University of the West Indies (The UWI) have announced a landmark partnership to accelerate clinical research and biomarker innovation throughout Barbados and the wider Caribbean. This collaboration aims to accelerate advanced biobanking infrastructure and incorporate genotype-based biomarkers into regional clinical and translational research. The initiative will focus on identifying the genetic basis of hereditary disorders that disproportionately affect Caribbean populations, including hemoglobinopathies, oncogenic mutations, and metabolic syndromes. By leveraging the region's distinct genomic diversity and The UWI's strong research capacity, the partnership is poised to drive precision medicine approaches tailored to Caribbean communities. This will improve diagnostic accuracy, enhance therapeutic targeting, and lead to better health outcomes across the region. 'This collaboration represents an important step forward in The UWI's mission to elevate health research in the Caribbean,' said Dr. Damian Cohall, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences. 'Through this partnership, EarlyHealth will not only support capacity-building efforts, such as laboratory enhancements and regulatory training, but help empower our scientific community to bring cutting-edge research closer to the people of the Caribbean, while contributing to the global scientific landscape.''We are excited to leverage our global sponsor network alongside The UWI's deep understanding of Caribbean health needs, to create new clinical research opportunities for the region,' said Mr. Shaquille Williams, Director of Business Development for the Caribbean Region. This strategic alliance underlines EHG's and The UWI's commitment to advancing evidence-based healthcare solutions for the Caribbean, while positioning the region as an emerging contributor to global pharmaceutical and biomedical innovation. This initiative, facilitated by the Embassy of Barbados in the United Arab Emirates, highlights the growing importance of commercial diplomacy in a fast-changing multi-polar world. About EarlyHealth Group EarlyHealth Group is a global pharmaceutical company specializing in research, clinical trial management, and commercialization, driven by a core mission to make healthcare accessible. Learn more at About The University of the West Indies The UWI has been central to Caribbean development for over 75 years. Today, it is an internationally respected institution with five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, with global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Learn more at A photo accompanying this announcement is available at CONTACT: For media inquiries, please contact: EarlyHealth Group Communications Email: press@ in to access your portfolio
India Gazette
20-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
West Indies Test captain Chase reveals
New Delhi [India], May 20 (ANI): Roston Chase, the newly crowned West Indies Test captain, revealed how an 'ultimatum he received from his mother during his initial phase of his career served as a 'driving force' and helped carry his cricket to the 'next level'. A couple of days ago, Chase was named the West Indies skipper after Shai Hope opted out of the running for the Test captaincy, preferring to focus on his responsibilities in the shorter formats. Chase, who will now follow in the footsteps of Frank Worrell, Garfield Sobers, Clive Lloyd, and Viv Richards, reflected on his journey and reminisced about the days when he was 18 and looking to break into the Barbados team. 'I was a student at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill at the time, and I would be taking a lot of leave to go and play like in the first-class competition. I wasn't cemented in the Barbados team at that stage. So my mother encouraged me, but gave me an ultimatum that I will be given two years to make myself a permanent fixture in the Barbados team, or I will have to go to school permanently,' Chase said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo. 'I loved cricket more than school. I was always a good student, but cricket was my love. I worked hard, and I'm glad that she gave me that ultimatum because that really was the driving force for me to carry my cricket to the next level,' he added. The 33-year-old, who has 49 Test appearances under his belt, went on to highlight the instrumental role his father played during his journey and added, 'He would come and watch all my games, and talk to me about the game, [like] where I need to improve or I need to work on - the dos and don'ts.' The Caribbean side's Test schedule is thinner than most other sides. However, Chase feels the weight of history, considering that in the 1980s, the West Indies was arguably the best in the red-ball format. 'Captaining the West Indies is a great job to have, and there's a legacy attached to it. Playing for the West Indies means everything to me, so I'm ready for the responsibilities which come with the job,' he said. West Indies will participate in 13 fixtures in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, which is about to commence. Chase's first assignment as West Indies captain will be a three-match home Test series against Australia, set to begin on June 25 in Bridgetown. (ANI)
