E. Nigel Harris to step down as Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies

Out-going Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies., Prof. E. Nigel Harris. PHOTO/File

Professor. E. Nigel Harris has announced that he is stepping down as Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in April 2015, after an outstanding 10-year term.

During Harris’ tenure at the helm, the educational institutions’ student population grew form 24,000 to 50,000; the growth in the number of students achieving both undergraduate and graduate degrees to 9,000 – 10,000 annually; revenue and endowments have doubled and infrastructure had has enlarged and imporved considerably – but despite challenges, such as a reduction in contributions from member regional governments that support the school.

During the last 10 years, the University of The West Indies has expanded its links internationally – in particular with Africa, China, Europe, India and Latin America. The schools footprint in the Caribbean has grown from the “UWI-12” to the “UWI-14”, after Bermuda and the Turks & Caicos becoming member countries of the the institution.

Harris also spearheaded the introduction of the OPen Campus in 2008 – which has provided online degree and professional programs to students in the Caribbean region. The school now boasts of an expanded research program in the areas of technology; agriculture and food security; bio-safety; renewable energy; chronic non-communicable diseases; HIV/AIDS and a variety of other topics.

Harris, a Guyanese national plans to spend his retirement in St. Lucia.