The Tribune

THE University of the West Indies has offered its expertise to assist The Bahamas in its recovery and restoration efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Joaquin.

The University’s Vice Chancellor, Sir Hillary Beckles, pledged the University’s support and wrote to Prime Minister Perry Christie offering the expertise of a University “task force” comprising geo-technical engineers and public health and environmental and water resource specialists. “The UWI is keen to provide assistance in areas that may be among the greatest needs as we stand with our brothers and sisters in the Bahamas,” Sir Hillary said. The University joins other institutions and corporate citizens in volunteering its services for the ongoing rebuilding in the affected central and southeastern islands.

A similar UWI multi-disciplinary task force visited Dominica in September and was instrumental in providing technical support immediately following Tropical Storm Erika.

Dr Barbara Rodgers-Newbold, Head of the UWI Open Campus Bahamas, said she supports the decision taken by the Vice Chancellor in offering the University’s expertise to the Bahamas and continues to monitor the restorative efforts being made, especially in those islands on which UWI’s Open Campus online students reside. In the aftermath of the Hurricane, the Open Campus Bahamas reached out to its online students directly affected by Hurricane Joaquin to ensure there was minimal disruption in their studies.

Dr Rodgers-Newbold stressed the importance of the students being able to access their classrooms and interact with their peers and faculty. “We are vigilant in ensuring that we provide prompt response to students needing assistance; however, we are pleased that very few of our online students were adversely affected,” she said. The Open Campus offers online Certificates, Diplomas, Bachelors and Masters degrees as well as local workforce training and professional development courses.

Currently, the UWI Open Campus has students in at least seven Family Islands - Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Abaco, Bimini, Exuma, Andros, and Mayaguana - in addition to New Providence and this is expected to increase in the upcoming semesters as more students are opting to take advantage of the convenience of remaining at home while pursuing their university studies.

The Principal of the Open Campus, Dr Luz Longsworth, also joined the Vice Chancellor in conveying concern and support for the Bahamas and those adversely affected by the hurricane. The UWI continues to provide a high standard of tertiary education and offers multi-mode teaching and learning services through virtual and physical site locations in 17 English-speaking Caribbean countries across the region.