The University of the West Indies (UWI) is encouraging Jamaicans to pursue Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies to help tackle the Caribbean's pressing socioeconomic and environmental challenges.
The call to action comes as the university's Mona Campus in St Andrew has seen a decline in registered PhD students.
According to UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor, Graduate Studies and Research, Professor Aldrie Henry-Lee, the number of registered PhD students at the Mona Campus has dropped from the more than 200 students enrolled in the 2019-2020 academic year.
"In academic year 2019 to 2020, there were 217 registered PhD students, but this academic year 2024 to 2025, we are down to 176," Henry-Lee said while addressing the recently held UWI Research Day.
"I don’t like the downward trend, but we continue to market our programmes for increased enrolment," she stated.
The event, held under the theme 'The UWI Mona: Driving Jamaican, Caribbean and Global Development', highlighted the university's commitment to driving research and innovation in the region.
Despite the decline in PhD registrations, the university has seen a slight increase in PhD graduates, with 20 graduates in 2019, and 26 in 2024.
"I am very proud of the collective brilliance of our academicians and students who continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and create solutions for our region's most pressing challenges," Henry-Lee indicated.
She emphasised that the Caribbean faces complex challenges, including climate change, public health risks, economic turbulence, and energy food insecurity.
However, she believes that through rigorous research and technological innovation, these challenges can be transformed into potential opportunities.
"Through rigorous research and technological innovation, we have the power to transform these challenges into opportunities of growth and resilience," Henry-Lee stated.
