UWI playing its part

The Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus is ensuring future employers of UWI graduates that the institution will do its part to prepare students for the workplace environment.

However at the same time, Professor Professor Barriteau is calling on employers, businesses and the public sector to provide students with the opportunities to learn on the job, urging them not to expect the skills of a Chief Executive Officer or a Chief Financial Controller at entry level position.

In fact, noting that she is a more skilled University Administrator than she was ten years ago, she reminded those in leadership and management positions that they too faced their own learning curve, and urged them not to pretend that they entered their respective workplaces as CEOs and leaders.

“We will provide you with a graduate competent and capable of entering the workplace, and who has to adapt to translating knowledge into rapidly changing workplace practices.

“Do not resort to criticism without a willingness to provide on-the-job training, mentoring and internships to your future labour force, customers and clients.

“When our graduates attain the required fit, our economies and societies prosper. These young people represent our collective future. Collectively, we have a responsibility to prepare them for work and solid citizenship,” she said.
Professor Barriteau was speaking at the Campus’ Student Awards Ceremony 2017, held on Tuesday night, at the Roy Marshall Teaching Complex.

She also stressed that generally, the debate over the work-readiness of a university graduate has tended to be narrowly-focussed on whether a graduate is able to hit the ground running after landing a job.

She suggested that the debate excludes the fact that there is still need for workplace learning, a candidate’s ability to think critically, and to analyse and present evidence.

Meanwhile, the Principal said, while not there yet, Cave Hill’s aim is that every student who enters the world of work would have had a period of internship or a job attachment to give them that vital employee experience.

Professor Barriteau said Cave Hill has a robust internship programme that is being led by the Office of Student Affairs working assiduously with various faculties and corporate sector. She also gave thanks to all of the companies that provided students with work experience opportunities last year.

She said the University accepted that there is no guarantee that the student internship positions will be in line with the jobs they eventually secure based on their qualifications or employment availability, but believes that internships are vital components of work place readiness that all employers want.

“Globalisation has altered the face of employment. Global compatibility requires a new mindset and cross-cultural skills. Industry and business require more graduates with 21st century skills, such as critical thinking and analytical competencies, cognitive load management, cross cultural intelligence, the ability to formulate and solve interdisciplinary problems; all with a sophisticated approach to research and understanding of the relevance research,” she said.

The Principal also alluded to the fact that the proliferation of information technologies has contributed to altering the public perception of the university. Instead of being seen as only physical campuses, which some viewed traditionally as “Ivory Towers”, today’s universities make increasing use of virtual technologies and ICT driven educational platforms, she suggested.

“Universities are proving that we are worthy catalysts, capable of driving economic development and adding significant value to our immediate communities and further afield.

“For example, whether you like what is exposed or researched at Cave Hill, no one can accuse the Cave Hill Campus of being isolated from the Barbadian community.

“The UWI Cave Hill Campus is a proud participant in the national/regional space. We are an intrinsic part of this region, and we are here to stay. We are not educational carpetbaggers!” she stressed. (AH)