UWI and Guardian Asset Management Launch Mentorship Programme to Bridge Classroom and Career

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica, W.I. | Tuesday, October 27, 2026—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has launched a new Mentorship Programme, an initiative led by the Economic Engagement and Industry Partnerships (EEIP) Unit within the University Office of Planning that is designed to connect students with industry leaders. The programme will be coordinated through relevant faculty offices across The UWI’s campuses. Guardian Asset Management & Investment Services Limited (GAMISL), based in Trinidad and Tobago, is the programme’s first corporate partner.

The programme was launched on October 21, 2026, at the University Office of Planning, The UWI St. Augustine Campus, with representatives from both institutions in attendance.

The initiative marks another step in The UWI’s efforts to strengthen partnerships between academia and industry while creating meaningful opportunities for students. It is being led by the Economic Engagement and Industry Partnerships (EEIP) Unit, a newly established division within the Office of the Vice-Chancellor focused on building strategic corporate partnerships that support student success and national development.

GAMISL welcomed its first UWI mentee, Mercerdes Modeste, for a one-year placement. Ms Modeste graduated on October 23, 2026, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance from the Faculty of Social Sciences. She crossed the graduation stage with professional experience already underway, giving her a head start as she begins her career.

During the placement which begins in November, Ms Modeste will build professional skills, gain industry knowledge and acquire hands-on workplace experience. The programme combines academic learning with structured mentorship and on-the-job training to prepare participants for a successful transition from university to employment.

Speaking at the launch, Professor C. Justin Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Academic-Industry Partnerships and Planning, said, “Initiatives like this are about building the region’s capacity, one practitioner and one student at a time.”

He added, “This is a real partnership between the University and industry… You can teach valuation, portfolio theory, risk, and the mathematics of return in a classroom, but judgment, how decisions are made when the numbers are unclear, lives in people, and it passes from person to person. That is why mentorship matters.”

Mr. Miguel Martinez, President, Guardian Asset Management and Investment Services Limited, noted that “Developing the next generation of professionals goes beyond academic knowledge. It requires meaningful opportunities to bridge theory and practice. For us, this initiative is an investment in people, an investment in opportunity and, ultimately, an investment in the future of our industry. With the demand for talent in our markets today, the timing couldn’t be better.”

The Mentorship Programme is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and workforce needs by equipping students with practical, workplace-ready skills, providing meaningful on-the-job experience, and creating pathways to full-time employment after graduation. Through mentorship from employers and experienced business leaders, students develop key competencies such as critical thinking, teamwork, communication and professionalism, while employers gain opportunities to identify and nurture talented graduates suited to their organisations.

The programme also strengthens collaboration between The UWI and the corporate sector, fostering long-term partnerships that support student development through scholarships, grants, awards and other collaborative initiatives.

Dr Indrani Bachan-Persad, Head of the Economic Engagement and Industry Partnerships Unit, University Office of Planning, who plays a key role in advancing The UWI’s industry engagement agenda and fostering partnerships that create transformative opportunities for students and employers alike, said, “This programme responds directly to concerns from the private sector that graduates are not fully prepared for the job market. Our aim is to close that gap through meaningful engagement with industry. We are starting with finance, and we look forward to bringing other sectors and companies on board.”

Also present at the launch were Narisa Hosein, Vice President – Investments, and Donna Gosein, People, Culture and Capability Associate at GAMISL, alongside Mercerdes Modeste.

Organisations interested in partnering with The UWI on the Mentorship Programme can contact Dr Indrani Bachan-Persad, Head of the Economic Engagement and Industry Partnerships Unit, University Office of Planning at <indrani.bachan-persad@uwi.edu>