ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it intends to spend an estimated US$39 million towards the expansion of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Island Campus here.
University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Island CampusA statement issued following the weekly Cabinet meeting, said that the matter was discussed with a delegation from the campus, including Principal and Vice Chancellor, Densil Williams and Registrar Hyram Forde.
According to the statement, the campus which started out in 2019 with 178 students will by September have an enrolment of 1,700 students with the number increasing to more than 2,000 by September 2024.
“The Principal informed that on-campus residences are required as is an administrative complex. The government of Antigua and Barbuda is about to acquire US$40 million from the Saudi’s and will leverage 39 million towards the UWI Five Islands Campus expansion,” the statement said.
It said that faculty housing will also be constructed near the campus and a clinic site will be arranged on campus. A Nursing School that meets the high standard set by the Antigua and Barbuda law will have its beginnings September 2022.
“The UWI Five Islands will also create “The Center for Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy.” The Blue Economy is expected to have a significant impact on economic diversification through training of youth, taking Antigua and Barbuda to the next level. A Director is to be appointed and is expected to be in place by October 2022,” the statement said.
It said that the UWI principal also made a presentation of the plans for a UWI Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Department which will be a major focus of the campus.
