St. John’s, Antigua & Barbuda, and Baltimore County, MD, February 15, 2021 – Officials from TheUniversity of the West Indies, Five Islands Campus (UWI FIC) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote academic and research cooperation between the two universities. The agreement, signed in a virtual ceremony, is the first formal partnership between the two institutions.

Through this new collaboration, the two institutions will be working together to identify academic opportunities for students to benefit from research and study at their campuses. Additionally, UMBC’s experience with grants, contracts, and technology transfer in computing will support the development of an Artificial Intelligence Research Institute at The UWI FIC.

Both The UWI FIC and UMBC prioritize international partnerships by facilitating global opportunities and international connections for faculty, students, and staff. Among UMBC’s many partnerships are collaborations with Tel Aviv University in Israel, the University of Kassel in Germany, and the University of Porto in Portugal. The collaboration with UMBC is the second international partnership for The UWI FIC following the agreement with Harvard Business School in 2021.

“Partnering with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County to enhance our research and overall teaching and learning experience for our students and faculty is an important part of our broader vision of increasing access to high quality education within Antigua and Barbuda, and the wider Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) region,” noted Principal of The UWI Five Islands Campus, Professor Densil A. Williams. “This collaboration will yield great benefits for members of our academic communities. The UWI FIC looks forward to a long and fruitful partnership over the coming years.”

“I am inspired and energized by the signing of the MOU between UMBC and UWI FIC,” said Professor Antonio Moreira, vice provost for academic affairs at UMBC. “Our two institutions share the same core values of providing strong support for the success of all our students and an unwavering commitment to inclusive excellence, equity, diversity, and social justice.” He notes, “Faculty, students, and staff from our two universities will partner in educational programs and research projects that will result in graduates who will be prepared for the jobs of the future. We will also work together to develop innovative approaches to common challenges pertaining to both the Caribbean region and the State of Maryland. I look forward to a most successful partnership in the years ahead.”