Hundreds of school leavers across St. Kitts and Nevis have an additional option for tertiary studies within the region now that the University of the West Indies is preparing to open its 4th landed campus in Antigua.
The Antigua government says it intends to open the campus on Five Islands in September 2019.
St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of Education and Youth, Deputy Prime Minister Shawn Richards is encouraging prospective students to consider attending the UWI landed campus in Antigua as it may be more cost effective than traveling further to the other UWI landed campuses in Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados.
“There was an earlier meeting in Antigua for the OECS Ministers of Education; we had the opportunity to also go and tour the Five Islands campus. There are already studies taking place there in terms of some particular areas so I guess it’s a matter of expanding those particular areas of study and ensuring that the programs meet the standards established by UWI. We have recognized UWI degrees in St. Kitts and Nevis for many years and so I would suppose it would be the same standards and so we would encourage our students to go there.
“As a matter of fact depending on the particular program it might actually be cheaper to go to Antigua because it’s closer to St. Kitts and Nevis certainly in the cost of traveling there, it’s an option that persons may look at.
“Now in terms of a national of St. Kitts and Nevis going off to Antigua to study, that is a decision that individual would have to make, just as with any other campus and the particular areas of studies offered there, whether within the region or further afield.”
Deputy Prime Minister Richards said he is pleased with some of the proposed fields of study at the new campus, including teaching, nursing and hospitality. He said across the region these are professions where there is always a need for trained persons.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne calls the 4th Landed Campus of the University of the West Indies an accomplishment for the OECS and donated EC$100, 000 towards the operations of the campus.
According to the Antigua government, a Strategic Development Plan for the new campus will soon be released.