The University of the West Indies

Office of the University CIO

ICT Retreat 2025 Reinforces Commitment to Excellence Through Unity

Nazir Alladin presenting on Digital Transformation Programme

Day 1 of the ICT Retreat 2025 – Nazir Alladin, CIO of STA-CITS, presents on the Digital Transformation Programme.

 

Zoom participants at the ICT Retreat 2025

Zoom participants (top far left): Abigail Wren, Nishan Rampersad, Marlon Raghunanan, Troy Carrington, Omar Small, Professor C. Justin Robinson and Derrick Lewis.

Introduction

The University of the West Indies (UWI) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals gathered at the Regional Headquarters (Vice-Chancellery) in Kingston, Jamaica, for the ICT Retreat 2025, held from Wednesday, January 28 to Friday, January 30, 2026. The retreat, which was conducted in a hybrid format, brought together participants both in person and virtually from across all UWI campuses. It marked a significant milestone as the first in-person ICT retreat since the COVID-19 pandemic, providing an important opportunity for ICT staff to reconnect, collaborate, and align on the future of ICT services across the regional institution. The event also welcomed key stakeholders, including colleagues from the Bursary, Audit, Human Resources, and Marketing and Communications departments, as well as strategic partners such as Fortinet, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and PBS Technology Limited.

Held under the theme, “Excellence Through Unity: ICT Services for Staff and Student Success,” the retreat focused on strengthening partnerships across campuses and reinforcing ICT’s critical role in advancing the University’s academic, administrative, and student support functions. The event created a platform for ICT professionals to share insights, exchange best practices, and explore innovative solutions aimed at enhancing the digital experience for both staff and students.

Collaborative Sessions

Breakout sessions were convened on the first day of the retreat, bringing together members of six ICT focus groups: the M365 Roadmap, Cybersecurity, ERP Technical, Artificial Intelligence, Web Technical, and the CIO Caucus. These hybrid sessions provided each group with dedicated time and space to collaborate, refine technology strategies, and finalise the details of their presentations ahead of their scheduled delivery during the retreat. Each focus group focused on consolidating cross-campus perspectives and delivered presentations that accurately reflect the collective expertise, initiatives, and strategic direction within their specialised areas.  

 

Members of the M365 Roadmap Focus Group

The M365 Roadmap Focus Group met to refine and align the objectives for their upcoming retreat presentation. The team reviewed shared documents, clarified the session’s goals, and worked toward finalising the roadmap content to accurately reflect their priorities and planned initiatives.

 

Members of the Cybersecurity Focus Group

The Cybersecurity Focus Group session covered tabletop exercises, incident response playbook updates and CSIRT website evaluation. The session aimed to enhance cybersecurity processes, boost user awareness, and strengthen the university's incident response readiness.

 

Members of the ERP Technical Focus Group

The ERP Technical Focus Group discussed reporting needs and explored modern API‑driven customisation methods.

 

Members of the Artificial Intelligence Focus Group

The AI Focus Group discussed the university’s readiness for AI, addressing AI digital literacy, use of tools, and coordinating AI initiatives across departments.

 

Members of the Web Technical Focus Group

The Web Technical Team’s breakout session focused on the website redesign initiative to align with the university’s new strategic plan.

 

Members of the CIO Caucus Focus Group

The CIO Caucus Focus Group session discussed shared governance, the implications and the roadmap to transition to SaaS.

Presentation Spotlights

Throughout the three-day retreat, participants engaged in numerous presentations, strategic discussions, and collaborative sessions to enhance service delivery, advance digital transformation, and strengthen the resilience and security of ICT infrastructure. The following highlights represent a few presentations delivered by ICT leaders across the University, each addressing critical priorities while shaping the future of technology services at UWI.

 

  • On Day 1, Mr. Nazir Alladin, CIO at the St Augustine Campus, delivered a pivotal presentation on Digital Transformation. Programme as a major, multi-campus initiative funded by the CDB. The objective was to modernise ICT infrastructure, enhance cybersecurity, update governance frameworks, and implement innovative digital solutions, including AI‑driven tools to improve the experiences of both students and staff. The programme also incorporates change management to support successful adoption and is geared toward unifying the University’s digital ecosystem in alignment with the OneUWI vision.
  • On Day 2, the ERP Technical Presentation, delivered by Mr. Daren Dhoray, Enterprise Applications Manager, St Augustine and Mr. Ian Sutherland, Applications Manager at the Mona Information Technology Services (MITS), focused on improving UWI’s ERP environment. Service Dependency Mappings to identify vulnerabilities were highlighted, and key matters relating to ERP support. Mr. Kevin McCollin, Cave Hill Campus Information Technology Services, highlighted lessons from SaaS implementation projects, such as the importance of aligning modernisation with process redesign and pacing implementation based on available resources.
  • Mr. Rohan Shaw, Senior Project Officer in the Office of the University Chief Information Officer (OUCIO), and Mr. Barry Jordan, Systems Engineer at Cave Hill Campus IT Services (CITS), delivered a presentation on M365 Roadmap, outlining UWI’s strategy to establish a unified, secure, and efficient Microsoft 365 environment across all campuses. They highlighted key milestones, including the migration of all staff to the uwi.edu email platform. The presenters also underscored the need for improved identity harmonisation, stronger cross‑campus collaboration, and enhanced governance to fully support the OneUWI digital vision and ensure consistent ICT services throughout the region.
  • On Day 3, Mr. Derval Dally, University Webmaster, together with Mr. Andrew Litchmore, IT Officer, and Mr. Christopher Muir, Senior IT Officer at Mona Information Technology Services (MITS), delivered a presentation on Artificial Intelligence, highlighting the growing adoption of AI tools across The UWI. The presenters noted that while campuses and units are actively exploring AI, there will be a need for coordination, shared standards, central oversight and expanding staff capacity-building initiatives to support responsible and effective adoption.
  • The CIO Caucus Presentation, delivered by Mr. Keith Inniss, CIO at the Cave Hill Campus; Mr. Leighton Duncan, CIO at the Five Islands Campus; Mrs. Brigitte Collins, University CIO; Mrs.Tracey Edwards-Greaves, CIO at the Global Campus; and Mr. Jeremy Whyte, CIO at the Mona Campus. The session focused on strengthening ICT governance, addressing the institutional impact of SaaS adoption, and defining the strategic direction for enterprise systems.

 

Fostering Collaboration

 Karen Smith and Dr Ilenius Ildephonce

Omar Downie (left) and Clint Hurley (right)                 Karen Smith (left) and Dr Ilenius Ildephonce (right)

The retreat provided dedicated opportunities for professional networking, enabling ICT staff from across all campuses to engage in meaningful dialogue and share insights. These interactions facilitated the exchange of ideas, collaborative problem-solving, and the building of connections that will support ongoing cross-campus initiatives and strengthen the University’s ICT community.

Retreat Socials

Continuing the longstanding tradition of informal engagement between ICT colleagues, the Office of the University Chief Information Officer (OUCIO) and Mona IT Services (MITS) hosted a social lyme for retreat participants at Gloria’s Seafood City in the historic Port Royal. This gathering provided ICT staff from across the campuses with a well-deserved opportunity to unwind in a collegial setting while fostering camaraderie and strengthening professional relationships. The event facilitated meaningful dialogue and peer engagement beyond the formal retreat sessions, further reinforcing the spirit of unity embodied in the retreat’s theme.

 

The Office of the University Chief Information Officer extends sincere appreciation to all presenters, organisers, and ICT professionals from across the campuses whose active participation contributed to the success of ICT Retreat 2025. Your continued dedication, collaboration, and commitment to excellence play a vital role in strengthening ICT services and advancing the University’s mission to support staff and student success across the region.

END.