Jamaica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have committed to providing financial support to the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, ending Antigua and Barbuda's decade-long status as the institution's sole government funder.
The commitment was made at the recently concluded UWI Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings. Campus Principal Professor Justin Robinson described the development as a historic moment in the institution's growth.
"At the recently concluded UWI Technical Advisory Committee meetings, four Caribbean nations joined Antigua and Barbuda to provide financial support to the Five Islands Campus," Robinson said, noting that up to that point, the Antiguan government had been the campus's only government funder.
Robinson expressed gratitude to the four contributing nations and called on remaining OECS member states to follow suit. "I really want to thank them for that faith in us and to encourage the other OECS nations to come on board as we build this OECS initiative," he said.
The Five Islands Campus has increasingly positioned itself as a regional institution serving the broader Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Robinson has previously argued that the campus's greatest long-term contribution would be providing the OECS with its own research voice.
Antigua and Barbuda has been a cornerstone partner since the campus was established. Robinson acknowledged the depth of that relationship, noting the government's financial backing had remained consistent even during difficult periods. "Sometimes when payday is coming and the cash looks a little tight, we can make a call and the money is there and we know it's a huge sacrifice," he said.
The campus is also pursuing longer-term financial resilience through a newly established endowment fund, which recently received approval from the University's Financial and General Purposes Committee. The fund carries an ambitious target of US$50 million over 10 years, with returns earmarked for student scholarships, research, infrastructure, and an emergency resilience fund. A formal public launch is planned for later this year.
The broadening of government support coincides with steady institutional growth. The campus recorded an underlying financial surplus of EC$7.9 million for the most recent academic year and is targeting approximately 16% enrolment growth.
