The University of the West Indies (UWI) has launched a groundbreaking initiative that aims to bring Caribbean knowledge and expertise to a global audience. This innovative venture, the International School of Development and Justice (ISDJ), is the world’s first global online graduate business school focused on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Situated within The UWI Global Campus, the ISDJ offers a series of one-year online master’s programs addressing critical global issues such as poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, gender equality, educational access, and public health. This initiative seeks to equip future leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to advance these essential goals.
View Residential Properties for Rent in Barbados
Originally presented to financial partners like the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Invest as an “entrepreneurial project designed to export Caribbean knowledge to the world,” the ISDJ is a strategic effort to harness the intellectual and cultural creativity of the Caribbean and package it into academic curricula for global dissemination. At the launch event, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, UWI’s vice-chancellor, emphasized the significance of this project in addressing both historical and future challenges of the Caribbean. He invited global participation, noting that UWI already has students from 80 countries and aims to significantly expand this reach through the ISDJ.
The ISDJ represents a significant shift from traditional university models, as it is UWI’s first inter-campus major financial corporation. Owned by all five UWI campuses, it is designed to operate with the efficiency and governance of a private company. This innovative structure is expected to attract substantial global funding and extend UWI’s international influence.
Elizabeth Robberechts, lead investment officer at IDB Invest, praised the initiative as a hub for knowledge exchange, research, and the development of best practices aimed at achieving the SDGs. She highlighted the ISDJ’s potential to inspire a new generation of leaders committed to addressing global challenges, with an impact that will extend beyond the Caribbean and Latin American regions to serve as a model for global education in sustainable development.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Education, Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, also attended the launch event, envisioning the ISDJ as a transformative institution that will contribute to a more equitable world, benefiting the Caribbean region. She emphasized the unique perspective UWI faculty can bring to global issues, particularly given the Caribbean’s vulnerability to climate change, and underscored the importance of training leaders who prioritize human development over economic growth.
View all of our Properties for Sale in Barbados
