THE EDITOR, Madam:
I READ Peter-John Gordon's letter on UWI, "Intellectual Ghetto" . The comments were spot on.
I agree that UWI or any institution for that matter cannot afford to ignore criticisms and must at all times address and reaffirm its legitimacy. I agree that refusing to respond to a criticism simply because the critic may have ulterior motives is mistaken and ultimately self-defeating. The central issue is the question as to how well UWI measures in comparison to other universities.
I did my undergraduate degree (Economics & Management) at UWI in the early 1990s and I am now pursuing graduate studies at the University of Toronto, Canada. There are a number of areas in which I believe UWI is as good as other universities. I think the quality of the lecturers, their teaching abilities, their qualifications and the breadth of the courses I had at UWI measures fairly against my experiences at universities in Canada. I would even go so far as to say that the teaching of the fundamentals was more emphasised at UWI.
UWI's shortcomings relate to the lack of resources. At University of Toronto I have Internet access to all the university libraries and resources. I register for courses online and communicate with my professors and fellow students via university supplied e-mail. On any of the campuses I have 24-hour Internet access and in all my courses, computer applications are emphasised.
As a result there is an emphasis on research and as would be expected, I should add that these resources are funded through the imposition of very high tuitions and corporate involvement.
You may also be aware that these universities are run as corporations with very large assets. In fact the University of Toronto is a major holder of real estate in the downtown Toronto City core. When all is said and done however, I believe, the students and lecturers are no more or less enlightened than those at UWI.
It cannot be over-emphasised, the major difference between UWI and other universities relate to the lack of resources. I am tempted to be hard on UWI even as I write these lines of support as I have been trying for over a year to obtain certain information in an effort to gain course exemptions here at the University of Toronto. This points to administrative inefficiencies which results from the lack of resources to employ skilled clerical staff and to invest in adequate archival systems.
We Jamaicans, it seems to me, have a peculiar habit of either harshly criticising our institutions or "hyping" our positives to the nth degree. We rarely engage in balanced, rational discourse. Mr. Gordon's letter indicated a wish that the issue be addressed rationally rather than emotionally. I agree that UWI needs to address questions in regard to its relevance and sustainability as a university.
I am etc.,
MARK WHITE
E-mail: aitho_ops@hotmail.com
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Via Go-Jamaica
