During the 25th Annual Sir Arthur Lewis of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) Conference, held at the beginning of May, the University of West Indies (UWI) and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) signed a new Memorandum of Understanding. Present to sign the agreement at the opening ceremony were Professor Peter Taylor, Interim Director of IDS and the UWI Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs, Ms. Sandrea Maynard.
Both partners expressed great aspirations and expectations for a continuation of the agreement, which is an extension of an earlier Memorandum that expired during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Professor Peter Taylor, Interim Director, Institute for Development Studies, said:
“On behalf of the IDS I am delighted to have this opportunity to renew our partnership with the University of the West Indies, at the heart of which is a cooperation with SALISES. IDS aims to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable world through research, teaching and engagement. At a time when our world is ever more turbulent, complex and uncertain, we know that research and evidence are needed more than ever. Yet the voices, experiences and knowledge of those who are most affected by the intersecting challenges playing out from the global to the local are often not heard, and they remain disenfranchised, disempowered, marginalized and excluded.
“That is why this partnership between IDS and UWI must lead to co-created research that serves the needs of those most in danger of being left behind. We believe IDS and UWI have shared values, common purpose and enormous synergies to achieve together, grounded in equity, excellence and mutual learning and respect. We look forward to the actions following this agreement today that will enable us to ensure this collaboration really delivers on its promise.”
Ms. Sandrea Maynard, Pro Vice Chancellor, Global Affairs, University of the West Indies, said:
“The Institute of Development Studies, like the University of the West Indies is committed to creating a more equitable and sustainable world. We share a common purpose to deliver world-class research, learning, and teaching in line with the sustainable development goals. The MoU signing is just the continued steps toward putting our two institutions on the path to addressing some of the challenges confronting us globally.
“The MoU will allow us to collaborate on the development of joint research activities, teaching, and learning activities, staging of academic events as well as the exchange of academic materials. The Sir Arthur Lewis of Social and Economic Studies is ideally placed to be the driver of this initiative.”
The Sir Arthur Lewis of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) conference is held annually and this year focused on the theme of ‘Translating Thought into Action: Towards Decolonial Equity and Justice in the Caribbean’.