The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus has reported a strong financial performance for the 2023–2024 academic year, achieving an impressive 35% operating margin—a remarkable feat for a young institution in only its fifth year of operation.
The figures were revealed during the annual Campus Council meeting, where Principal Professor Justin Robinson highlighted the campus’s continued focus on financial sustainability alongside academic expansion.
“In 2023–24, we saw a 29.7% increase in tuition revenue and a 204% increase in research grant income,” Robinson said. “This allowed us to end the year with a 35% operating margin, significantly surpassing the UWI target of 1%.”
Robinson credited the disciplined approach to cost management, strategic programme development, and strong partnerships with government and private stakeholders. He also acknowledged the campus’s full-time bursar and finance team for keeping operations “very honest financially.”
The Five Islands Campus has rapidly grown from 176 students in 2019 to more than 1,100 today, and with half of all applicants still unable to enroll due to space or entry limitations, demand remains high.
The financial surplus comes as the campus embarks on a major expansion, including new infrastructure funded by an $80 million loan from the Saudi Development Fund. The development will support the university’s plan to reach 5,000 students within the next decade.
“Our goal is to grow non-governmental revenue so that we can reduce our reliance on the state and still expand our impact,” Robinson said. “This is a campus that is not just surviving—it is thriving.”
Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles echoed this sentiment, describing the Five Islands Campus as “a bright star in the UWI sky” and a model of entrepreneurial education rooted in public service.
With continued growth in enrolment, academic offerings, and international partnerships, the campus is positioning itself not only as a regional educational hub but also as a financially resilient institution poised to lead.