New faculty for Cave Hill Campus soon

The Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies will soon have a new faculty.

In support of this island’s orange economy, Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal Professor the Most Honourable Eudine Barriteau announced the creation of the campus’ seventh division:- the Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts (FCCPA).

Saying this will be launched on August 1 during the celebrations of Emancipation Day, she stated it would “build on the wealth of Caribbean culture, creativity, scholarship and creative imagination to support regional, economic and social development.”

In her annual report to the campus council yesterday, she said the new department would be critical in positioning Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean into a highly specialised niche space in a global industry that today accounted for US$ 2.225 trillion dollars or three percent of the world’s GDP.

“In spite of our rich cultural legacy, sub-regional data on the Caribbean locates the region at a level far below its market potential. As shown, the Caribbean is one of the lowest regions in the world, yet Caribbean culture is consumed and exploited worldwide.This faculty enables The UWI to support governments who intend to grow the cultural sectors and creative industries to push entrepreneurship and innovation. It enables the Campus to hone the talents and skills of Caribbean citizens in the cultural and creative sectors, areas in which the Caribbean has considerable assets,” she said.

Barriteau further said the faculty would advance UWI’s strategic goal of expanding access and earning revenue, and restoring its financial health.

“We will attract regional and international students to the campus for skills and knowledge in an area uniquely Caribbean with global appeal,” she said. (JMB)