UWI Five Islands Launches Criminology Degree to Train Regional Police Forces

UWI Five Islands Launches Criminology Degree to Train Regional Police Forces

The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus has launched a new Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, In a direct response to the region’s escalating crime crisis, designed to provide law enforcement officers across the Eastern Caribbean with access to advanced, career-relevant education.

What sets the programme apart is its flexible, multi-modal delivery model tailored for working professionals. Police officers, prison officers, and other law enforcement personnel across the OECS will now be able to earn a degree from UWI without leaving their home countries or giving up their full-time jobs.

“We are meeting our learners where they are,” said Professor Justin Robinson, Principal of the Five Islands Campus. “This programme is designed with the realities of regional law enforcement in mind—limited time, family responsibilities, and the urgent need for professional development in the field.”

The degree will be delivered through a hybrid approach: some courses will be fully online, others taught in person by local faculty in each territory, and select modules delivered by visiting UWI lecturers flown into the islands. Prior learning assessments will also be used to recognise officers’ existing training and experience.

Early interest has already been strong. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines alone, more than 30 officers have applied. The programme is also being introduced in Dominica, with plans to expand to St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and other OECS territories through partnerships with the Regional Security System (RSS).

Dr. Curtis Charles, Director of Academic Affairs, described the programme as “one of the most ambitious and socially responsive initiatives” undertaken by the campus. “This is about more than degrees. It’s about professionalising security services across the region and equipping officers with the skills to address modern criminal threats,” he said.

Robinson emphasized that the aim is to create a regional centre of excellence in criminology and public safety. “This campus was built to serve the Eastern Caribbean, and we are living up to that promise,” he said.

UWI’s leadership believes the programme can also support broader goals of crime prevention, justice reform, and evidence-based policing. Education Minister Daryll Matthew echoed that sentiment, calling it a timely and necessary tool for national development.

With the first cohort set to begin this year, UWI Five Islands is not only expanding access to tertiary education but also strengthening the Caribbean’s capacity to tackle one of its most pressing challenges.

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