The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Medgar Evers College in New York have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to foster greater ties in areas of importance to the Caribbean and the diaspora in New York.
UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Harris and President of the Medgar Evers College Dr Edison Jackson, signed the MOU at the education symposium held at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. The signing took place at the symposium which was part of the two-day New York Conference on the Caribbean on Thursday. The Symposium was held under the theme `Strengthening Collaborative Ties between New York and Caricom Higher Education Institutions’.
According to a Caricom Secretariat press release, Harris extended gratitude to Dr Jackson for making the symposium possible, and indicated that though UWI and Medgar Evers had signed other similar documents, this one was special since it was aimed at building a relationship in areas of relevance to the Caribbean and to the Caribbean Diaspora in New York such as youth development and immigration.
He expressed the hope that the MOU would usher in a partnership that would serve as a model for other relationships.
Before the signing of the MOU, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and Lead Head of Government for Education in the Caricom Quasi Cabinet, Dr Denzil Douglas referred to the MOU and said it would form the basis to move forward beyond the conference and that they needed to arrive at some concrete elements of a plan for collaboration.
Among the priorities he suggested that should arise from the Conference were, greater collaboration in research and training through the establishment of Caricom-New York Fellowships and a special fund dedicated for exchange at the staff and student levels; a concerted effort to push the frontiers of knowledge by placing emphasis on areas of research and development, especially in areas such as tourism, transportation and climate change; and establishing common areas of research and outreach that are particularly aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens in the Caribbean and New York in such areas that connect education to health, trade, culture and promote greater public awareness especially to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS; prevention of non-communicable diseases, advancing cultural industries and thereby capitalising on some of the assets of the Caribbean diaspora.
He also suggested the private sector of Caricom and New York’s involvement in sponsoring goodwill tours to enhance the understanding of groups and stakeholders that share common cultural and educational objectives; placing greater emphasis on promoting courses on Caribbean Studies and the American connections in our tertiary learning institutions (TLIs); and establishing a Charles Rangel Professorship to commemorate the occasion in terms of Caribbean USA relations.
The panelists at the two-hour long symposium were Professor Harris, Professor Frances Negron Muntaner of Columbia University; Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, CCNY, Dr Garrie Moore; Director – Human Development, Caricom Secretariat, Myrna Bernard; and President, Community Service Society, Dr David Jones.
