‘There will be challenges but also days of glorious victory’ — Dr Haldane Davies
THE year 2023 will have challenges but also glorious victory based on plans to expand the footprint of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC), its President Dr Haldane Davies has forecast.
Delivering his “State of the University” address at their main campus in Kingston on January 13, Dr Davies reported on the advances made by the UCC in 2022 and plans for further growth and development in 2023.
“The UCC has accomplished great things since its inception. As times change and opportunities expand, we have even greater heights to achieve. I am truly thankful for you and the potential that you possess to traverse the unbeaten path, create new access points, and propel this university from good to great,” he told faculty and students.
“There is no time like this time to strengthen our stakes, lengthen our cords, and expand our curtains — for something great is about to happen.”
The institution, he said, “will be a voice crying in the wilderness of educational, social and economic despair; a voice of hope declaring that our people, nation, region and beyond will have expanded opportunities for growth, resilience, prosperity, and sustainability — all because of our boldness, courage, confidence, faith and audacity to challenge the status quo, make tough decisions, take strategic action, and traverse the unknown to bring excellence home”.
Reporting on his first 120 days as president of this UCC, Dr Davies acknowledged the “hard work of staff and colleagues in helping to collaboratively build another round on the ladder of UCC’S success”.
Among the milestones he noted was the signing of initial memoranda of understanding (MOU) to collaborate with partners in Europe, Africa, North America, and South America to receive and share in programmes and offerings, and the work which continues towards exploring similar arrangements with potential partners in Central America, the Caribbean, and Asia.
In celebrating UCC’S advancements Dr Davies reported that the university joined the Association of Governing Boards — the premier voice on good governance in higher education, and which also obtained membership in the International Economic Development Council — a guiding voice in global economic and urban development with which they are in the process of developing an agreement to