The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus Lifelong Learning Unit is anticipating that its October 2025 graduating class comprised of more than 500 students, will be its largest graduating class since establishment.

Paula Edwards Lee, the Executive Director of the Lifelong Learning Unit, announced the achievement during the annual UWI Five Islands Campus Council meeting last week.

The unit has seen consistent increases in graduation rates, rising from 132 graduates in its first year to 254 in the second year and 356 in the third year.

“This year … we will be graduating more than 500 persons,” Lee said during her presentation to the Council.

Last year’s valedictorian was Kenisha White, a resident of His Majesty’s Prison, who accessed online courses through the unit.

“Tears came to my eyes this morning when the principal [Professor Justin Robinson] mentioned that the valedictorian for last year’s graduation was Miss Kenisha White, a resident of His Majesty’s Prison,” Lee said. “This is an indication that everyone deserves a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth opportunity to make it right. It’s an indication that as a people and as a university, there ought be no discrimination.”

The Lifelong Learning Unit offers professional development programmes, including the Harvard Credential of Readiness courses in business analysis, economics for managers, and financial accounting.

Lee emphasized that the unit provides opportunities for anyone to upskill or reskill, from underserved populations to CEOs and other professionals.