Vice-Chancellor’s Forum to discuss The UWI Becoming a World Class University and Contributions of Faculty Development

The Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) at The University of the West Indies (The UWI) celebrates 30 years of contributions to faculty development with a Vice-Chancellor’s Forum. The Forum brings together a panel of experts in faculty and educational development to examine the strategic role of faculty development in the University for effective and outstanding teaching.

Themed, Becoming a World Class University: The Contributions of Faculty Development, the event will be streamed live via UWItv on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 3:00 pm EC/2:00 pm JA. Interested persons are invited to tune in and participate at www.uwitv.org or via Facebook at www.facebook.com/uwitv.

This Vice-Chancellor’s Forum, a fitting tribute to the work undertaken by the CETLs, underscores The UWI’s world-class university status while exploring teaching and learning in a rapidly changing world.

The Forum will feature remarks by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, and presentations by Dr Sylvia Henry, Director, CETL, Cave Hill Campus; Dr Leroy Hill, Director, CETL, St Augustine Campus, Mrs Michelle Stewart-McKoy, Faculty/ Educational Developer, CETL Mona Campus, and Professor Jayne McGuire, Visiting Fulbright Scholar and International Expert on Universal Design. The Mona Campus plays a lead coordinating role in the proceedings. Professor Dale Webber, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Mr Damian Facey, Administrative Assistant, CETL, Mona Campus and Dr Mervin E. Chisholm, Manager, CETL Mona Campus are all slated to bring remarks. Dr Charmaine McKenzie, Coordinator, Campus Office of Online Learning at The UWI Mona Campus will serve as Chair of the proceedings and moderator of the panel discussion.

According to Chairman of the Planning Committee, Dr Mervin E. Chisholm, Manager, CETL Mona, “Faculty play very important roles in the life of the academy. They are the movers and shakers in universities, and contribute in enormous ways to making universities world-class institutions of higher learning. Clearly their quality affects universities in far-reaching ways. In attaining the status of a world-class university, the professional development of faculty must be prioritised. The UWI responded to the need for more focused faculty development, and established the CETL (then known as the Staff Development Unit) in 1992 at the Mona Campus. It is fair to say that the introduction of the teaching and learning centre at The UWI was a visible and tangible statement of the university’s commitment to improving teaching.”

He continued, “While celebrating 30 years of faculty development at The UWI, this milestone is also an opportunity to retrospectively look at faculty development and then determine the prospective focus and activities for the CETLs as they have now emerged as mature centres and continue to serve this academic community.”