Transforming the Caribbean: Harnessing AI Innovation for Educational Advancement

Speech by Curtis B. Charles

“Good evening, good afternoon everyone. It’s truly an honor to represent the Caribbean and the vibrant contingent of Antigua and Barbuda. Today, I’d like to take a few moments to discuss the empowerment of AI and share an example of the innovative steps we’re undertaking in our region.

As the Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of the West Indies Five Islands campus, I’m proud to say that our institution boasts a remarkable enrollment of 50,000 students and holds a prestigious position in the top 1.5% of universities around the globe. Our campus, established in 2019 during the early days of the Covid pandemic, began with just 174 students but has impressively expanded to nearly 1,200 students within five years. This incredible growth is the result of a strategic initiative we implemented when I arrived, focusing on establishing this campus as a hub for artificial intelligence, which aligns well with my previous experience as a data scientist at Microsoft and my dedication to higher education.

We have proudly founded the Caribbean’s first School of Science, Computing and Artificial Intelligence. Our vision is not only transformational; we aim to do more than just produce computer scientists. Our business school students are immersed in business analytics, health and behavioral sciences students delve into health informatics, and education students explore sentiment analysis for enhanced precision in learning. Our mission is to spearhead AI development across our entire region.

Even as one of the smallest islands and institutions, we are making remarkable progress. Last year, we were thrilled to host the Caribbean’s inaugural research conference, attracting 250 international delegates and prominent tech firms. This event marked a significant achievement in our journey toward AI empowerment. Each University of the West Indies campus has its specialization – Trinidad excels in engineering, Barbados in law, Jamaica (Mona) in medicine – and our campus is recognized for its focus on Artificial Intelligence.

We strongly resonate with the African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” As the head of academic affairs, I have discovered a wealth of opportunities for collaboration and look forward to connecting with many of you. This conference has been a treasure trove for those of us from the Caribbean, and we invite you to participate in our upcoming conference this June.

We are truly pioneering something exceptional in the Caribbean by leading with AI at the Five Islands campus in Antigua and Barbuda. We are proving that it’s not size that determines influence; it’s vision, dedication, and collaboration that make the difference. Thank you all so much.”