NEW YORK – UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor E. Nigel Harris has been named the new Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). The ACU announced Professor Harris’ election following meetings in Hong Kong jointly hosted by leading Chinese universities; the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Open University of Hong Kong on April 5, 2011.
Established in 1913, the ACU is the oldest and one of the most prestigious inter-university networks in the world. Professor Harris who served as the Association’s Vice Chair for the past two years succeeds Dr. Theuns Eloff, Vice-Chancellor of North-West University, South Africa and will serve as Chairman for a two year term. During his tenure the Association will celebrate its centenary and Professor Harris will also take the lead in the implementation of the Association’s strategic plan 2008-2013 ‘Preparing for a Second Century’.
On his appointment,Prof. Harris remarked that “This represents an excellent opportunity to enhance the global visibility of The University of the West Indies and to highlight that despite limited resources, West Indian governments and people have built an institution which is making its mark internationally.”
The ACU’s mission is to contribute to the provision of excellent higher education for the benefit of all people throughout the Commonwealth. In keeping with the Association’s mission Professor Harris also noted that “…burgeoning new technologies which are revolutionizing the tertiary education sector make it an opportune time to be at the forefront of discussions. Further, in a global economic climate where governments are providing less funding for universities, we are mandated to develop novel coping strategies while increased demands for accountability are also calling for research to translate more effectively into tangible societal benefits. In the face of these demands, coupled with competition from new types of private universities, the traditional Commonwealth Universities represented by the ACU are strategically working toward improving services and meeting new types of needs.”
In March 2010, Professor Harris was elected President of the Association of Universities and Research Institutions of the Caribbean (UNICA); a voluntary regional organization which like the ACU, fosters cooperation among the higher education institutions in the Caribbean.
