Anyways, what stuck with me was the contribution by the young (but very experienced) Dr. Rolph Balgobin who suggested that if we (T&T) really wanted to move toward developed country status (economically and otherwise), we needed to become more innovative. He noted that it was interesting that the businesses that surrounded the local (well really regional) university (UWI) were mainly accommodation, rum shops (bars) and food outlets! He wondered why there wasn't more evidence of innovative entrepreneurship in close proximity to this tertiary institution - well the answer is simple, UWI by design was never intended to breed innovative thinkers, but rather to maintain the status quo...
The good news is that the newly established (local) university - UTT is free of the history that seems to keep UWI in bondage... and hopefully, we'll begin seeing a new breed of graduates that embrace innovation as an authentic pursuit of excellence... and not only as an academic discourse.
+ve vibes,
Mark
that's has always been Jim's #1 question to me. TT can do with some organization too which will help reduce the coruption and lead to some innovation
ReplyDeletegood plug for the University :), but honestly I share(it may be biased) that view about UWI and I think it has created even more stagnated thinkers in the last few years. Sorry I missed the town hall though, I did boast about it to my colleagues however.
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