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Vice-chancellor's Overview

NEW WEBSITES

In November 2021, The UWI launched a redesigned, modern, and more efficient website for its central administrative operations—www.uwi.edu. Weeks before its launch, however, the design of the new website was entered in the 9th Annual Education Digital Marketing Awards; it emerged as a Gold Award winner from among 1,000 entries from other colleges, universities and secondary schools around the world.

www.uwi.edu is The UWI’s system-wide or ‘Centre’ website that serves as the primary digital asset for the regional university, and an online gateway to its five campuses (Mona, Jamaica; St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; Cave Hill, Barbados; Five Islands, Antigua and the Open Campus).

“Among the primary focus of these areas have been the design and development of a more modern, world-class, user-centred web presence, with more engaging content that better supports the University’s mission, strategic business goals and objectives.” Dr. Rhonda Jaipaul-O’Garro, University Director, Marketing & Communications Barbuda; and its Open Campus), as well as ten global centres with partnering institutions

The website redesign project, which began in 2019, was led by The UWI’s University Marketing and Communications Office and the Office of the Chief Information Officer, with general oversight by the University Registrar, Dr. Maurice D. Smith. According to University Director, Marketing and Communications, Dr. Rhonda Jaipaul-O’Garro, “It took on greater significance with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic because of the increased technological dependence in meeting stakeholder needs and advancing the University’s ongoing digital transformation strategy. The website is also a critical tool in strengthening The UWI’s visibility and engagement as a top-ranked university, currently positioned among the best 1.5% in the world.”

As part of the same website project, a key element of The UWI’s overall digital transformation focus, all five campus websites were also redesigned. In addition to the updated layout and content, the site redesigns featured a responsive design and a programme search function that allows users to easily access programme information directly from the homepages. The sites’ architecture was also reorganised so that information could be located more intuitively.