University Problems In West Indies

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31769, 28 August 1968, Page 8

University Problems In West Indies

Extra-mural studies, academic structures for a federal university, and the relationship of a university to other tertiary educational institutions are the chief interest of Mr S. L. Martin, principal of the University College of Arts and Sciences in Barbados and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of its parent University of the West Indies. In Chrtstehureh yesterday, after attending the congress of the Association of British Universities _in Sydney, Mr Martin said that these were also major concerns of his colleagues at other universities but the geographical situation of the West Indies gave them special point. The University of the West Indies bad campuses at Jamaica (2300 students), Trinidad (1000), and Barbados (300), which were Commonwealth countries, and links with students in 11 other territories. Numbers were expected to double in 10 years. A survey of the interests and qualifications of other potential students was now being made in conjunction with an inquiry as to how well the university was serving its people. Mr Martin said that effective extra-mural studies might be a short-term answer. Coupled with these investigations was a study of the best academic structure and organisation to ensure common fundamental standards while allowing each college maximum autonomy. Yet another subject of study was the relationship of the university to other tertiary institutions—technological institutes, teachers’ colleges, and schools of agriculture. Mr Martin said he was pleased to find the largest Universities in the Commonwealth were also concerned about this matter.

“In the West Indies we are faced with the same problems as other universities: how to develop our service to the community, preserve academic integrity, and find a working relationship with other tertiary institutions,” said Mr Martin. Mr Martin is a Jamaican who formerly Aught chemists