– The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus (UWI FIC) and the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing a partnership aimed at strengthening legal education and professional development opportunities for students.

The signing ceremony which took place at The UWI Five Islands Campus was attended by Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal Professor C. Justin Robinson; Ms. Jenna Dicocco, Assistant Lecturer in the School of Humanities & Education; Ms. Luann De Costa, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association; and Mr. George Looby.

Professor Robinson noted that this MOU signing was timely with the launch of the LLB programme at Five Islands and the response by applicants from Antigua and Barbuda and the wider OECS. “We’re not just trying to give people access to a law degree; we want our students building research and advocacy on the legal issues that matter here, in our own jurisdiction,” Robinson said.

President of the the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association Luann De Costa echoed that commitment to active collaboration between the association and the university. “We’re here to be a real partner in this, not just observers,” she said. “That means helping shape the curriculum, mentoring students, and standing with them as they work toward establishing a student law society and a law journal.”

Under the agreement, the university and the Bar Association will collaborate in five key areas. The Bar Association will help identify experienced attorneys to mentor UWI FIC law students through a new student mentorship program, while both parties will organize workshops to educate employees on legal matters of benefit and interest. The Bar Association will also help promote internship opportunities for law students within member law firms and organizations, supporting their career development. In addition, the university will host Continuing Legal Education (CLE) sessions delivered by the Bar Association, with practitioners invited to speak on campus, and both parties will facilitate joint networking events connecting students with the broader legal community and practitioners.

The UWI FIC says the partnership reflects a shared commitment to preparing law students for practice within Commonwealth Caribbean’s legal system while fostering closer ties between the campus and the local legal profession.

Photo caption:

Mr. George Looby, Ms. Luann De Costa, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association, Principal of The UWI Five Islands Prof. C. Justin Robinson and Ms. Jenna Dicocco.

The UWI Five Islands, established in 2019 as the fifth campus of The University of the West Indies, represents a significant milestone in Caribbean higher education. Located in the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, this institution brings world-class education to the heart of the Caribbean.

As part of The University of the West Indies system, which has been consistently ranked among the best universities in the world by the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE), The UWI Five Islands upholds the same standards of academic excellence that have made The UWI a beacon of educational achievement in the region.

The campus offers a comprehensive range of over 45 degree programmes spanning both undergraduate and postgraduate levels across four distinguished schools

: School of Humanities and Education, School of Business and Management, School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, School of Science, Computing and Artificial Intelligence.

The campus is also proud to house The Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue

Economy

(COBE), reflecting the institution’s commitment to marine science research and sustainable ocean-based economic development—critical areas for Caribbean nations.

Learn more at

www.fiveislands.uwi.edu

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The,” hence The UWI.)

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: The UWI Five Islands Campus and Bar Association Sign MOU.