The UWI Mona launches UWISTAR – A new gateway in professional development

Loop News – Professionals, lifelong learners, and organisations seeking to build capacity will soon have a powerful new resource at their fingertips.

The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, will today (May 29) launch its Short-Term Advancement and Resource Centre (UWISTAR),  marking a major step forward in accessible, high-impact professional education.

UWISTAR will offer over 150 flexible, industry-relevant short courses and certifications across The UWI Mona’s seven faculties. These courses will allow enrollees to earn stackable credits as a pathway to matriculate into UWI degree programmes. Some of the areas covered are: project management, Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Services (PHEMS), tax compliance, sports marketing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), foreign languages, and data protection, designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce.

At the heart of the initiative is a mission to make learning easier and more accessible for all. According to Dr Olivene Burke, Director of UWISTAR, the centre is not just filling a gap in the market but centralising professional learning across the university.

“The UWISTAR is the central hub that pulls all the short courses offered on The UWI Mona Campus from the seven faculties together under one centralised unit. With a catalogue of over 150 short courses, the UWISTAR is designed to support the faculties in continuous professional development for employees across all levels of the workforce, from entry level workers to senior executives,” Dr Burke explained.

The move comes as more professionals seek targeted, short-term learning solutions that allow them to build skills without the time and financial commitment of traditional degree programmes.

Campus Registrar Dr Donovan Stanberry describes UWISTAR as a timely and strategic step for The UWI Mona, positioning the university as a key driver of workforce development in Jamaica and across the region.

“We are seeing increasing demand for practical, certified training that allows individuals to stay ahead in their industries. UWISTAR allows us to respond to those demands in a meaningful and agile way. We’re making professional development more accessible than ever, helping individuals build the competencies that industries are asking for, and ensuring The UWI Mona remains a leader in lifelong learning,” said Dr Stanberry.