The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Friday, November 15, 2024—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has formalised a new global partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) from the Netherlands. This cross-continental academic collaboration was signed into effect by the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Affairs at The UWI, Sandrea Maynard, and the President of BUas, Dr. Jorrit Snijder, during a virtual ceremony on November 12.

| WI Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Affairs, Ms. Sandrea Maynard signs the MoU at The UWI’s Regional Headquarters in Jamaica with Legal Officer, UMs. Haydee Gordon looking on.

Over the past decade, The UWI has developed joint global centres and initiatives with various respected universities, advancing its strategic goal of increasing access to higher education. Specifically, The UWI aims to expand its offerings across all continents. Both The UWI and BUas are international research institutions that offer undergraduate and graduate degree programmes. 

The areas of collaboration will include faculty and student exchanges, exposure to corporate partners, volunteering, internship opportunities, and co-internships. These initiatives are designed to better prepare students from both universities to meet the demands and opportunities of a rapidly changing world.

President of BUas, Dr. Jorrit Snijder signs the MoU at his university in Breda, The Netherlands.

BUas will gain from The UWI’s extensive research outputs, Caribbean expertise, and scholarship related to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). In turn, The UWI will benefit from BUas’ innovative approaches in digital media and game design.

Expressing enthusiasm about the new partnership PVC Maynard said, “The cross-continental collaboration not only bridges European and Caribbean educational cultures but also promotes global understanding and development, aligning with both institutions’ strategic goals of international engagement and innovation”.  

Dr Snijder noted, “Ultimately, this partnership will enhance educational quality and research impact on both continents. By combining resources and expertise, both institutions can foster greater internationalisation, develop joint academic programmes, and facilitate student and faculty exchanges, contributing to a richer, more diverse academic environment.”

This collaboration bridges European and Caribbean educational cultures, promoting global understanding and development. It aligns with both institutions’ strategic goals of international engagement and innovation. Ultimately, this partnership aims to enhance academic quality and research impact on both continents.

President of BUas, Dr. Jorrit Snijder (right) celebrates the formalising of the UWI/BUas partnership with Symone Betton Nayo, Jamaican Ambassador to Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and Luxemborg and Head of Mission to the EU at BUas in The Netherlands.

About Breda University of Applied Sciences 

Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) is a specialist and global higher education institute in Breda, the Netherlands. On our green and small-scale campus and in our diverse learning communities, students, staff and industry partners empower each other to shape a better world by Creating Meaningful Experiences. They do so in the fields of Tourism, Leisure & Events, Hotel & Facility Management, Built Environment, Logistics Management, Game Design, Creative Business and Data Science & AI. For more information, please go to BUas.nl/en.

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development, residing at the center of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 75 years.

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and the wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE) . Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu