Vice Chancellor’s Review of the UWI STRATEGIC PLAN - 2008/2009: Pure & Applied Sciences, Joint Presentation Mona Campus August 17, 2009

Vice Chancellor’s Review of the UWI STRATEGIC PLAN - 2008/2009:

Pure & Applied Sciences, Joint Presentation

Mona CampusAugust 17, 2009

1. Teaching & Learning

• 11 Lecturers enrolled in Teaching Certificate Programme (08/09) –Cave Hill

• 40 Lecturers Exposed to at least one course at Mona 2007-9.

• 22 Lecturers and 27 TA/Demonstrators at St. Augustine for 2007-9

1.1 Teaching Quality Training- IDU


• 12 C/Hill; 8 (Mona) and1 (STA) courses eliminated

• New market responsive, inter-disciplinary programme. 6 (C/Hill), 10 (Mona) and 8 (STA) Courses mounted/approved

• Integration/rationalization: Computing Level 1 (Mona)

• Harmonization: Year 1 Chem, Physics and Biology(partially: Computing & Maths)

1.2 Course/Programme Renewal


• 34% (52/152 ) online & most with e-component (Cave Hill)

• 40% (76/189) Online or E-component (Mona)• All courses have online or e-component at

(StA)• Open Campus participation in courses:

None (C/Hill); 5 (Mona) and 14 (StA)

• All courses open for students from any Campus

1.2 Course/Programme Renewal


• Programme Redesigns or restructuring or new: Meteorology, computing, preliminary chem, general physics, electronics, medical physics, materials and earth sciences, math bridging prog.

• Pedagogy: Peer-lead learning (Chemistry); graphical programming coming before Java (Comp); greater use of computers in maths; learning outcome audits in biology courses (StA)

Entrenchment of undergrad. Research project to cover many skill sets (ideal UWI Graduate)

1.3.0 Noteworthy Course/Programme Renewal


• Structured Undergraduate Research Project – Key(chosen to reflect local relevance)

• Enhanced and Enriched Tutorials• Math bridging or proficiency Test programms• Mathematics Olympiad programme• Courses designed to promote team work• Courses designed to broaden intellectual scope• Increased use of ICT and Virtual Lab• Signing plagiarism declaration forms • Requirement to pass both coursework and final exam• Custom-developed Simulators which develop

problem-solving, team work as well as IT skills.

1.4 Steps to the Ideal UWI Graduate


• Technology Innovations

-Mobile plant micro-propagation units biotechnol.; -Virtual labs: Electronics (C/Hill), Physics (Mona), Chemistry (StA)

-Rehabilitation of ICT facilities in Chem. Lab.;

-Interactive electronic facility (Mona)• Out of Classroom: Work study (Chem); students

involvement in ICT consultancies (Comp) (Mona).

-Internships, field trips-agriculture, nutrition, dietetics (StA), Microsoft Imagine Cup (Cave Hill team reached round 2).

1.3.1 Noteworthy Course/Programme Renewal


• Cave Hill:

In 08/09 projected enrolment (1111) exceeded by 3% (1144)

• Mona:

1738 (2007/8) and 1912 (2008/9) -10% growth• St. Augustine:

3191 (2008/9) – 6.4% growth over 2007/8

(26.5% of Campus enrollment) • 2009/10 shaping up as 2008/9 (competition?)

1.5 Undergraduate enrolment

2. Graduate Studies & Research

• Cave Hill: 51(2008/9 )– 9% increase over 7/8

• Mona: 179 (2008/9) vs 270 (2007/8)

• St. Augustine: 111 (2008/9) new thrust

• New programmes-MSc Computing, MASc, OESH, MSc Tropical Biodiversity will increase enrollment in 2009/10

2.1 Taught Master’s Enrolment


• Cave Hill: 37 MPhil & 19 PhD students for 2008/9 MPhil/PhD’s up ca. 2% from 2007/8

Mona: 133 (MPhil) & 58 PhD for 2008/9 158 (MPhil) & 70 PhD for 2007/8 Decrease =16% (MPhil) and 17% (PhD)

– Possible Causes: Low stipends; financial difficulties; no 2.2 admission policy (now rescinded).

• St. Augustine: 140 MPhil & 51 PhD for 2008/9

2.2 MPhil & PhD Programmes


• Students spread usually not aligned to clusters

• Most Clusters not viable due to resource constraints

• Research is in focused groups lead by ‘ICONS’

• Research Clusters/Focus groups –address national problems or international problems with national impact

• Resource mobilization effort to support Clusters/Focus groups in critical areas is under way

2.3 MPhil/PhD Programmes-Clusters


• New course FPAS6000: Scientific Literature Review taken by 26 students has strengthened research methodology skills (Cave Hill).

• Research Methods Course (Mona)

• Emphasis on seminars, research meetings

(St. Augustine)

2.4 &2.5 Strengthening of MPhil/PhD Prog.


• Cave Hill: St Augustine (1); international (3)

• Mona with: Cave Hill (1); International (2 )

• St. Augustine: Cross Campus (4);

International (9).

International joint publications are much higher than Co-supervisions –both are low for cross-Campus research efforts- Equipment and funding needs determine collaborations

2.6 External Co-supervision is Limited


• In Scientific Literature course, supervisor oversees/marks student’s literature review - ensures this engagement occurs at an early stage (Cave Hill)

• Mentoring/assisting Supervisors especially those in difficulty (Mona)

• Appointing supervisory Teams and Training

(St. Augustine)

2.7 Initiatives to Strengthen Supervision


• 5 Full-time PhD students (of total 19)(C/Hill)

• 28 Fulltime students (out of 51) funded (Scholarships or Dept Awards)- (St Augustine)

• 28 Fulltime (out of 58) are funded by Dept. Awards, scholarships or TAs. (Mona)

2.8 PhD Student Status

UWI Publications 2002-2009 by Country

Cross Campus Collaboration output =32 papers mostly in Health fields

Type of UWI Publications

Annual UWI Publications

Annual Publications for Some Univ.

2,487 records. OG=Univ W Indies

Subject Areas for Published UWI Scholarship

Journals Publishing UWI Scholarly Items

Publications from Pure & Applied Sciences 2002/9

Cross Campus Collaboration output =9 papers in no particular field

Areas for Pure & Applied Sciences Publications

Major Disciplines Cross-Disciplinary Areas


• Cave Hill – US$1,070,000

• Mona: US$615,000

• St. Augustine: US$3,500,000 (consortia)

There were numerous unsuccessful applications + some under consideration

2.10 External Research Grants - successful


• Cave Hill: Lantibiotic from Streptococcus mutans and uses thereof – US Patent 6218362 B1 17/04/2001 (Cave Hill) (in 2001)

• Mona: 1 Granted (Extractions from Bitterwood –US Patent) and 6 pending decision

• St. Augustine: 1 granted.

2.13 Patents Filled or Granted

3. Leadership & Managerial Culture

• The Strategic Plan is discussed at Faculty Board meetings.

• All undergraduates are assigned an advisor, advisor training was held at Cave Hill

• Instituting mandatory student-advisor meetings has proven a challenge.

• Documents circulate by both hard copy and e-mail- effectiveness is not satisfactory

3.1-5 Management of Academic Advising + Documentation


• Student enrichment: Cave Hill: Clubs-astronomy, comp, etc…Mona: Clubs (ham radio/electronics/robotics); peer learning/teaching; junior professional societies St. Augustine: Career guidance and WoW, Societies e.g. astronomical, Chem, biol, comp, agricultural etc…

• Student Recognition: Annual award ceremony(celebrate student and staff achievements)

The Strategic Plan is discussed Faculty Board meetings.

• All undergraduates are assigned an advisor, advisor training was held at C/Hill



3.6-7 Management of Students Academic Progress


• Cave Hill: New e-ready student study area

• St. Augustine: Increased quality of tutorials + Field trips; Electronic display boards

• Mona: Early orientation programme; new areas engineering & agriculture; refurbishment of mathematics building (Principal-thanks); increase stipends for Dept Awardees (campus- thanks).

The Strategic Plan is discussed Faculty Board meetings.

• All undergraduates are assigned an advisor, advisor training was held at C/Hill



3.8 Significant Developments for Student Experience

4. Other Issues

Instrumentation upgrade in 08/09:• Cray Desktop Supercomputer • 300 MHz & 500 MHz NMRs ordered• LC-MS ordered• GC-MS ordered• Liquid Nitrogen generator ordered

4.1.0 Improving Research –Cave Hill

4. Other Issues

• Mona: Great improvements in E-access to journals and data bases;

• St. Augustine:

-Modern Equipment for the Chemistry Dept.

-Increased participation of students at

international conferences;

-Presentations to the Faculty by top world

researchers

-Short student study periods overseas

4.1.1 Improving Research - Mona

4. Other Issues

• Numerous projects are under way:

Marine Governance research, biodiversity, climate change, human health and nutrition, plant health, water management, cocoa, medicinal plants, bauxite/alumina, GIS/GPS, energy, agriculture, natural products etc…

4.2 Caribbean/SIDS-focused Research

4. Other Issues

- Natural resource management, fisheries- Environmental health; nutrition- Disaster Mitigation

- Plant genetic resources

- Climate change and alternative energy;

- Occupational health and & safety

- Petrology- Parasitology - Instructional technologies- Computerization of medial centres

4.3 Research with Impact

4. Other Issues

• Fluid Mechanics (Mona-St. Augustine)

• Climate Change (All Campuses)

• Natural Products of medicinal value (all)

4.5 Major Cross-Campus Collaborations

4. Other Issues

• University: Ottawa, Lavoie, Dalhousie, Toronto, Turk, Pace, Fort Valley, Kagashima, Seville, Royal Holloway, North Calorina, East Carolina, Starthclyde, Dublin,Herriott-Watt.

4.5 Major International Collaborations-Many

Concluding Statement• The Faculties of Pure and Applied Sciences

have solid teaching programmes that are constantly updated; including innovations

• Research is rather weak and with stagnant output levels – a plan is needed to reverse the trend; especially resource mobilization efforts

• The weakness in research may also affect throughput in taught programmes where research is a significant component.

• Fix poor cross campus research collaboration • There are good research programmes with

potentially high impact that need to be nurtured