ON Saturday, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St Augustine Campus celebrated Founder’s Day, marking 64 years since the transfer of the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture (ICTA) to the University College of the West Indies (UCWI). This historic occasion in 1960 signalled the birth of the St Augustine Campus and laid the foundation for its transformation into a leading institution of higher education and research in the Caribbean.
SEEDS PLANTED: Dr Eric Williams delivering his speech at a graduation ceremony at The UWI St Augustine Campus in the 1960s.
The story of The UWI St Augustine Campus began long before 1960, tracing its roots back to a sugar estate established in the 1800s. In 1921, the estate was handed over to the West Indian Agricultural College which opened its doors a year later on October 16, as the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture (ICTA). As a dedicated centre for agricultural education and research, the college played a pivotal role in advancing scientific farming methods in Trinidad and Tobago and beyond.
BACK THEN: Aerial view of the college showing several buildings including new biology building, Frank Stockdale Building and the experimental sugar factory.
:—Photos: THE ALMA JORDAN LIBRARY’S DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
The site again changed hands when Patrick Buchan-Hepburn, Lord Hailes, Governor General of the West Indies Federation, formally handed ICTA over to the UCWI during a historic ceremony at Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain. This transfer was a defining moment that set the course for the UWI St Augustine campus to expand beyond agriculture, offering diverse disciplines while continuing its tradition of research excellence.
Among the best: Cross-section of the crowd during a graduation ceremony.
Today, of the five UWI campuses across the region, the Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA) can be found only at the St Augustine Campus. From its agricultural roots to its modern-day prominence in research, teaching and outreach, the FFA maintains its unending agricultural legacy by focusing on real world problems like food security and reducing the region’s food import bill.
Graduands processing during a graduation ceremony from the 1960s.
From a modest cohort of 67 students in 1960, The UWI St Augustine has expanded significantly to serve thousands of students today, across hundreds of unique programmes. While ingrained in its early agricultural focus, the campus has branched out to include faculties in Engineering, Law, Medical Sciences, Humanities and Education, Sport, Science and Technology and Social Sciences. As part of the Caribbean’s leading university, the campus possesses a large 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.
The evolution from the West Indian Agricultural College to The UWI-STA has been nothing short of extraordinary—driven by a commitment to excellence and the spirit of innovation. The seeds planted with the opening of ICTA continue to bear fruit, symbolising our dedication to building a brighter future for the region and beyond.
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Publish date : 2024-10-14 14:50:00
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