UWI Professor Calls for Sustained Investment in Research and Development in Caribbean

There is a fundamental need for sustained investment in research and development in the Caribbean, says University of the West Indies (UWI) Pro Vice-Chancellor, Graduate Studies and Research, Professor Aldrie Henry-Lee.

She noted that across the globe, leading universities dedicate significant resources to research and development, recognising it as a key driver for economic growth and societal development.

Professor Henry-Lee was addressing UWI Research Day on March 13, held under the theme ‘The UWI Mona: Driving Jamaican, Caribbean and Global Development’.

Citing figures from Forbes magazine in December 2023, Professor Henry-Lee said John Hopkins University and University of California, San Francisco, spent US$3.42 billion and US$1.8 billion, respectively, on research and development in the previous fiscal year.

University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and University of Washington in Seattle rounded out the top-five institutions with the highest spend on research and development.

“In contrast, Caribbean universities operate within more constrained budgets. This impacts our ability to compete on a global scale; however, we have demonstrated that strategic investment, whether through public funding, private-sector collaboration or international partnerships, can yield significant returns for national and regional development,” Professor Henry-Lee said.

She underscored that Caribbean universities must advocate for an increase in research funding as a national and regional priority.

Professor Henry-Lee argued that to maintain and improve excellent research output and ensure that research has tangible benefits for society, universities must adopt strategic measures to enhance both the output and the impact of research initiatives.

“We must strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, encourage increased partnerships between departments and across faculties to tackle complex multifaceted issues, increase access to research funding for our students and academicians, expand the postgraduate research opportunities such as scholarships to attract and retain our postgraduate students, leverage digital technology by utilising artificial intelligence, big data and digital research tools to accelerate discoveries and expand the research capabilities,” she said.