By Neil Armstrong
 |
| Photo credit: Francine Buchner Dr. Gervan Fearon, President and Vice-Chancellor of Brock University |
The University of the West Indies and Brock University have
signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Brock-UWI Institute for
Canada-Caribbean Studies.
Speaking at the UWI Toronto Benefit Gala on April 6,
Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, vice-chancellor of the UWI, said the agreement to
create the institute was signed on the previous day at Brock University in St.
Catharines, Ontario.
“Brock has agreed to host this institute but I can share
with you that all of the universities in Canada are welcomed to be a part of
this consortium because we are inclusive, we are not exclusive.”
Professor Beckles said the UWI builds bridges, not walls,
and one of the greatest bridges that has been built over the past seven or
eight decades has been the Canada Caribbean bridge.
“It’s a bridge that has brought mutual benefit to this great
nation and to all the nations of the Caribbean and we’re here as a result of
this bridge in celebration of what we have done together.”
He said Canada has been there for the UWI from the very
beginning noting that when the Cave Hill campus in Barbados was built 53 years
ago the dormitories were all given to that campus by the government of Canada.
The vice-chancellor also said when the St. Augustine campus
was built in Port of Spain, Trinidad the dormitories there, still carrying the
name Canada Hall, was built by the government of Canada.
He noted that ten years ago the university built the Open Campus
of the UWI and the greatest grant it has ever received was $25 million from the
government of Canada to the Open Campus.
Beckles said the benefit gala was to also celebrate all of
the students who will have an opportunity to attend not only an excellent
university but an ethical university which gives students marginalized by
history and circumstances beyond their own control a leg up and an opportunity.
“This is our moral and ethical pledge to those people within
the Caribbean and as a result of your contributions we’ll be able to actualize
that philosophy of giving support to each and every child in the Caribbean who
historically have not had the benefit of the kind of support that they need to
attend their fine university.”
He said of all the 125 universities in the Caribbean, the
UWI is number one and of the 2,000 universities in the Caribbean and Latin
America, the university is in the top three per cent, and of the 28,000
universities in the world it is in the top five per cent.
Brock University says establishing the
Institute for Canada-Caribbean studies would provide a focal point for
multi-disciplinary research and teaching to deepen and improve the
multi-faceted relationships between Canada and the Caribbean and examine issues
affecting the Caribbean diaspora communities in Canada.
“Establishing an Institute for
Canada-Caribbean Studies would be a true reflection of Brock’s global
commitment to fostering a culture of intercultural understanding,” says Dr.
Gervan Fearon, president and vice-chancellor of Brock University, who is of
Jamaican heritage.
“We will also be welcoming scholars from
across Canada to be active participants and members of the Institute to
collaborate and lead projects related to Canada-Caribbean issues. Our vision is
to harness the expertise of the academic community across Canada and the
Caribbean to help address important topics that are relevant to those who live,
study and work in these regions of the world,” says Fearon in a story on the
university’s website.
At Brock, James Mandigo, vice-provost,
enrolment management and international, will serve as the institutional lead to
help facilitate the development of the Institute. His counterpart at UWI,
Richard Bernal, pro-vice-chancellor for global affairs, will lead a similar
process at UWI.
Joining the Brock and UWI officials at
the new MOU signing and renewal of two existing ones on April 5 was Canada’s
high commissioner to Jamaica, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and Cayman Islands,
Laurie Peters.
Brock University notes that more specifically, the agreements continue to provide mobility opportunities for faculty, staff and students between institutions.
“Faculty from across Canada and the Caribbean will be able to collaborate on joint research activities and participate in seminars, meetings and professional development opportunities. General staff, such as administrative and technical support, along with students from both institutions will also be able to gain valuable international experience through an exchange or short-term program,” says the university.
In 2014, Brock presented an honorary degree
to Sir Hilary Beckles and in May 2018 on his first international trip as
president and vice-chancellor of Brock, Dr. Fearon visited Antigua, Jamaica, Trinidad
and Tobago, and Grenada to build strong ties with the Caribbean.
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