AFUWI is committed to expanding access to higher education for exceptionally gifted and ambitious young men and women who face significant financial barriers that would deny access to tertiary education. Our support helps position these aspiring scholars to obtain a college education, equipping them with the vital skills and knowledge necessary to transform their lives, support their families, and enhance the communities they serve. The evidence is clear: increased access to higher education is crucial for eradicating generational poverty, fostering creativity, cultivating talent, and encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation—all fundamental components for nation-building. We will use every tool in our arsenal to emphasize the significance of higher education access for underserved populations in the Caribbean and the USA and to cast a global spotlight on this pivotal issue.
Over the last ten years, AFUWI has granted nearly 650 tuition scholarships and bursaries to students at The University of the West Indies (UWI). During this period, in-kind contributions valued at approximately $8.3M in books, furnishings, computers, and medical and dental equipment were also donated to campuses across the region. The Foundation also cultivates and nurtures strategic alliances with other academic institutions and entities that share a commitment to The UWI's priority objectives and the broader development goals of the Caribbean region and its diaspora.
AFUWI is a 501C (3) IRS-designated tax-exempt nonprofit entity. All donations, whether in cash or kind, are tax-deductible to the full extent of state and federal laws. By supporting AFUWI, donors contribute to a worthy cause and enjoy the benefits of tax deductions, making their donation(s) go even further.
The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years.
From a University College of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The UWI offers over 800 certificates, diplomas, and undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean's leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and the wider world.
The UWI's global recognition is not just a feather in our cap, but a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence. Consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious list since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old). The UWI's inclusion among the leading universities on THE's Impact Rankings for its response to the world's biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action, further underscores our global impact and recognition.
2023 marks The UWI's 75th anniversary. The Diamond Jubilee milestone themed "UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising." features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University.
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