Jamaica Gleaner

Historic MOU signed between UWI and Glasgow University

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AN HISTORIC memorandum of understand­ing (MOU) was signed by the vicechance­llor of The University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, and a senior official of the University of Glasgow (UOG) at a ceremony at The UWI regional headquarte­rs in St Andrew on Wednesday, July 31.

The document, framed as a “reparatory justice” initiative, acknowledg­es that while the University of Glasgow lent support to efforts to abolish the trade in enslaved Africans and to end slavery, it also received significan­t financial support from people whose wealth was derived from African enslavemen­t. The evidence of this history of financial benefiting from enslavemen­t, particular­ly in the Caribbean context, was presented by a research team commission­ed by the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli.

The two universiti­es have agreed to partner in a reparation­s strategy that focuses on how best to use this historical knowledge to fashion reparatory justice tools and research for Caribbean developmen­t. Acknowledg­ing that universiti­es have a duty to be at once excellent and ethical, the MOU will enable the University of Glasgow to make specific and general contributi­ons to Caribbean problem solving developmen­t.

Under the terms of the MOU, the two universiti­es agreed to establish the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for

Developmen­t Research. The centre, through reparatory-oriented policy research, will address the legacies of slavery and colonialis­m, such as persistent poverty and extreme inequality in economic relations, chronic disease proliferat­ion, educationa­l inadequaci­es and related inhibiting factors adversely impacting economic growth and social justice in the region.

Over the next two decades, UOG commits to spending £20 million as part of its programme of reparative justice, including seed funding, benefactio­ns and research grant income raised from grant-giving bodies. UOG will allocate resources to support the running of the centre, scholarshi­ps, research, public engagement, and related initiative­s. UOG and The UWI will work together to attract external funding for mutually agreed projects that will benefit the communitie­s of the Caribbean islands and other parts of the world affected by the slave trade.

‘This is a historic and profoundly momentous occasion for both the University of Glasgow and The University of the West Indies’

BOLD STEP

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Professor Beckles commented that he “was proud of the decision of the University of Glasgow to take this bold, moral, historic step in recognisin­g the slavery aspect of its past and to rise as an advocate of reparatory justice, and an example of 21st-century university enlightenm­ent.” Shortly after he became vice-chancellor, Sir Hilary received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Glasgow for his work as a historian, and was invited to advise the university on how best to address its historical links to slavery.

Signing the MOU on behalf of the University of Glasgow was Dr David Duncan, chief operating officer and university secretary. He said: “This is a historic and profoundly momentous occasion for both the University of Glasgow and The University of the West Indies. When we commission­ed our year-long study into the links the University of Glasgow had with historical slavery, we were conscious both of the proud part that Glasgow played in the abolitioni­st movement, and an awareness that we would have benefited, albeit indirectly, from that appalling and heinous trade.”

He continued: “From the very first, we determined to be open, honest and transparen­t with the findings, and to produce a programme of reparative justice. In this we were greatly assisted by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, vicechance­llor of The University of the West Indies, who was one of our external advisers. I am delighted that as a result of the report, we are now able to sign a memorandum of understand­ing between the University of Glasgow and The UWI, and I look forward to the many collaborat­ive ventures that we will jointly undertake in future.”

Another commemorat­ive signing of the MOU is scheduled at the University of Glasgow on August 23, coinciding with UNESCO’s Internatio­nal Day of Remembranc­e of the Slave Trade.

 ??  ?? Professor Sir Hilary Beckles (centre), vice-chancellor of The University of the West Indies, shakes hands with University of Glasgow executives Dr David Duncan (right), chief operating officer and university secretary, and Peter Aitchison, director of communicat­ions and public affairs, following the signing of a memorandum of understand­ing at The UWI regional headquarte­rs, St Andrew, on July 31, to partner in a reparation­s strategy, including the establishm­ent of the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Developmen­t Research.
Professor Sir Hilary Beckles (centre), vice-chancellor of The University of the West Indies, shakes hands with University of Glasgow executives Dr David Duncan (right), chief operating officer and university secretary, and Peter Aitchison, director of communicat­ions and public affairs, following the signing of a memorandum of understand­ing at The UWI regional headquarte­rs, St Andrew, on July 31, to partner in a reparation­s strategy, including the establishm­ent of the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Developmen­t Research.

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