The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus is seeing a surge in postgraduate enrollment, with many students choosing to leave offshore institutions in favour of graduate programmes now available closer to home.
At the annual Campus Council meeting, Principal Professor Justin Robinson reported that enrollment in master’s and PhD programmes has grown significantly, especially in education, business, sociology, and public health. In one standout example, the PhD in Education programme now has nearly 20 candidates, more than half of whom previously pursued studies with overseas universities.
“With UWI Five Islands offering credible, flexible postgraduate options tailored to the region’s needs, students are coming home,” Robinson said. “They’re recognising the value of investing in a Caribbean institution that understands and reflects their context.”
The expansion includes newly introduced programmes such as the Master of Public Health, an MBA in Healthcare Management, and MPhil/PhD tracks in multiple disciplines. A first-of-its-kind MSc in Managing Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases is also nearing approval, further positioning the campus as a leader in tackling regional health issues through education.
Dr. Curtis Charles, Director of Academic Affairs, said the shift marks a broader trend toward building research capacity in the Eastern Caribbean. “These returning students aren’t just seeking credentials—they’re investing in locally relevant research that can shape public policy and support Caribbean development,” he said.
The Five Islands Campus offers flexibility through blended learning and modular delivery, which has made it especially appealing to mature students balancing professional and family responsibilities.
Faculty from the School of Humanities and Education confirmed that students from Dominica, Saint Lucia, and other OECS countries are increasingly enrolling in graduate programmes based in Antigua and Barbuda, thanks to partnerships that support remote and hybrid delivery.
“Our students are now engaging in research about inclusive education, regional leadership, and education technology—all grounded in the Caribbean reality,” said Dr. Hunt, Head of the School of Humanities and Education.
UWI Five Islands’ growing postgraduate population is a sign that the campus, now five years old, is maturing into a full-service institution—one capable not just of educating undergraduates, but of producing the region’s next researchers, lecturers, and policy influencers.
As Robinson noted, “This shift from offshore to onshore is proof that the Eastern Caribbean is ready to lead in higher education—and UWI Five Islands is where that leadership begins.”
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I would hope that an institution of higher learning that wants to be taken seriously don’t traffic in jargons, and promotional rethoric and offering the latest gimmick in curriculum development.
What is inclusive education?
The World Bank Report in primary school and secondary school performance in the Region, should be a wakeup call and the need to double down to address found mental education needed for functionsls societies .
When will we learn it’s not issuing esoteric PHDs; or functioning like a diploma mill but offering degrees in productive skills that meets both the regional market needs for economic development, but can be applied globally