2011/2012 Annual Report - Open Campus - Uwi.edu

UWI OPEN CAMPUS ANNUAL REPORT 2011/2012caribbean countries, partnering with the Opencampus country Sites, and also maintains anumber of research partners within the uWicampuses and with many international institutions,and has undertaken projects with the uWiconsulting company across the region, respondingto international calls. As an example of themultiple partnerships within the Open campusand uWi, the ccdc in partnership with uWiconsulting responded to a european union callfor proposals for a project, review and evaluationof ict in education Policy and curriculum,and institutional Strengthening and capacity inSt. lucia in February 2012 and were successfulin their tender (grant sum 595,000). the projectis now being undertaken through the Opencampus St. lucia site.the Office of the Pro Vice chancellor and Principalplays an important role in coordinatingresearch throughout the Open campus. thedirector of the Open campus country Siteschannels requests to this Office for assistance byuWi to conduct research projects, which is inturn brought to the attention of the uWi consultingcompany to ensure a university-wideresponse to the research needs of the countriesof the region. the Office also works closely withthe deputy deans of Outreach in the Facultiesand with the uWi consulting company toensure that research projects requested by governmentsthrough uWi Open sites are undertakenand completed in a timely fashion.until 2012, research degrees (MPhil/Phd) werenot offered in the Open campus. in August2012 the board for graduate Studies andresearch approved a programme for MPhil/Phdcultural Studies within the Open campus, andthe first intake will be in time for the January2013 semester.One of the major research initiatives of the Opencampus is the formulation of a research agendafor the uWi 12+1 countries. As the report states,“the focus will be on the social developmentareas of research, as it is proposed that the Opencampus will collaborate with the relevant facultieson all campuses” (p. 4).Further, “the research agenda for the uWi 12+1countries, will identify gaps in social and developmentalresearch being conducted in thecaribbean with specific emphasis on the Anglophonecaribbean. this research agenda will helpin identifying and directing the focus of researchthat should be undertaken by the university”(ibid, p. 4).Conferences/ Lectures/Seminars/Workshopsduring the period under review a number ofcollaborative activities were undertaken withother Open campus sections, uWi campuses ordepartments, partner universities and institutions.these include but are not limited to thefollowing.• the cSdr collaborated with the Mccamchild development centre to host the 4thinternational conference on Attentiondeficient Hyperactivity disorder underthe theme ‘Working towards PositiveOutcomes’ and shared with a numberof the uWi Oc country sites.24A C A M P U S F O R T H E T I M E S . . . A C A M P U S F O R T H E F U T U R E