The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) have taken a major step toward expanding regional cooperation on digital transformation by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening policy development, research and capacity building across the Caribbean.
According to a press release from the school, the agreement was signed on May 28, 2026, at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business and Management on the UWI Cave Hill Campus in Barbados.
The partnership formalizes a longstanding relationship between the two regional institutions and establishes a structured framework for working together on key digital priorities affecting Caribbean countries.
The release said that under the agreement, UWI and the CTU will collaborate on a range of initiatives, including digital policy and regulation, research to support evidence-based decision-making, professional training, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, resource mobilization and the implementation of regional digital strategies.
Reportedly, the MoU also builds on years of collaboration between the institutions, including UWI’s contributions to CTU-led policy development, capacity-building programmes, artificial intelligence policy initiatives and regional digital harmonization efforts.
Speaking following the signing, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Affairs at The UWI, Sandrea Maynard, said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to addressing the Caribbean’s digital future through regional cooperation.
“This Memorandum of Understanding reflects our shared recognition that the Caribbean’s digital challenges—and opportunities—require coordinated regional leadership. Through this partnership, UWI and CTU are committing to work more intentionally to strengthen policy coherence, build regional capacity, and ensure that Caribbean perspectives are meaningfully represented in global digital and data governance conversations. This collaboration is about advancing development, resilience, and agency for the region.”
CTU Secretary-General Rodney Taylor said combining the university’s academic expertise with the organization’s policy leadership will strengthen the region’s ability to respond to emerging technologies and digital challenges.
“This partnership brings together The UWI’s academic excellence and the CTU’s regional policy leadership to strengthen digital transformation across the Caribbean. As we navigate emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, data governance, cybersecurity, and digital resilience, this collaboration will help ensure that the region not only responds to global developments but actively shapes them. Most importantly, this MoU moves us from dialogue to action, delivering tangible outcomes that advance sustainable development and benefit Caribbean people.”
According to the press release, the agreement comes at a time when digital transformation is becoming increasingly important to economic growth, government services, climate resilience and the Caribbean’s global competitiveness.
Officials said the partnership is designed to ensure that the region’s digital transition is inclusive and delivers long-term benefits by combining UWI’s research capabilities with the CTU’s leadership in regional telecommunications and digital policy.
With campuses across the Caribbean, UWI is expected to support the CTU’s work through research, training, policy advice and international engagement. The agreement also represents a shift from occasional collaboration to a more coordinated, long-term partnership focused on shaping the region’s digital future rather than simply responding to technological change.
The University said that the implementation of the agreement is already underway. Initial priorities include jointly hosting a Regional AI Forum in Trinidad on July 23–24, advancing digital governance and regional policy harmonization during CTU ICT Week 2026 in French Guiana from September 20–24, operationalizing
The UWI Institute for Intelligent Systems, Governance and Human-Centred Technology (INSIGHT), is expanding regional skills development through The UWI–ITU Academy Training Centre, a collaborative initiative between UWI and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
According to The UWI, these initiatives demonstrate the partners’ intention to move quickly from signing the agreement to delivering practical outcomes that support the Caribbean’s digital development and resilience.
