UWI Vice Chancellor Says Institution Owed 100 Million

The Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies is justifying an increase in tuition for some campuses, stating that with upgrades carried out at the institution, there must be a way in which monies spent are recouped.

Undergraduate tuition fees at Mona campus are to increase by 3.07 per cent across most faculties for the upcoming 2014-2015 academic year.

UWI is owed more than 100 million US dollars by regional governments, and Professor E. Nigel Harris says the university has played its part in keeping the institution afloat. He says individuals should look beyond the costs associated with a university education, to the benefits that can be derived from being the holder of a degree.

While acknowledging that Caribbean governments are still reeling from the economic meltdown, Harris believes special measures can be put in place to assist students.

Asked whether UWI’s survival is at risk due to lack of funding, Professor Nigel Harris said it is not, adding that the university has sought assistance from the Canadian and UK governments and the World Bank, among other lending agencies.

What concerns him, however, is whether the University of the West Indies will be in a position to function at its peak.