UWI Recognizes Outstanding Student Innovators at Inaugural International Leadership Conference

Students from Trinidad and Tobago, Canada and South Africa were among the top award recipients as The University of the West Indies (UWI) hosted its inaugural International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference and Entrepreneurship Expo (IUSLCEE), bringing together emerging talent from 11 countries.

The three-day conference, held from September 23 to 25, 2026, at The UWI Regional Headquarters in Jamaica, provided an international platform for undergraduate students to demonstrate their capabilities in academic research, entrepreneurship and leadership.

Participants from the Caribbean, North America and Africa competed for 16 trophies and awards, presenting research findings, business ventures and innovative approaches to challenges affecting communities and economies worldwide.

Beyond the competition, the event sought to strengthen relationships between higher education institutions, government representatives and industry stakeholders while encouraging greater investment in the next generation of Caribbean leaders.

Trinidad and Tobago Students Among Major Award Winners

Trinidad and Tobago featured prominently among the conference’s award recipients, with students earning recognition for achievements in both academic research and business development.

Entrepreneur Tatyanna Ross secured two major honours for her business, Chadon Beni Vinaigrette, receiving the Chancellor’s Award for Established Entrepreneurship and the Most Outstanding Exhibition award.

Her success highlighted the opportunities available for young Caribbean entrepreneurs to transform locally inspired products into commercially viable businesses.

Fellow Trinidad and Tobago student Mark A. Joseph Jr., representing the University of Trinidad and Tobago, earned runner-up honours in the academic research category.

His research explored communication and collaboration among engineering students, examining the influence of technology, mentorship and interactions between humans and artificial intelligence.

The conference’s highest academic research distinction, the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence, went to Nicole Valencia of Canada’s University of Winnipeg.

Valencia was recognised for her project, Al Dente Axons: What Pasta Can Teach Us About Brain Imaging, which explored concepts related to brain imaging through an unconventional research approach.

South Africa’s Agreement Sibiya, a student at North-West University, received the Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Emerging Entrepreneurship for Bambo Queen ReStyle Africa, an artificial intelligence-powered fashion platform.

Students from 11 Countries Connect Through Research and Entrepreneurship

The inaugural gathering attracted undergraduate representatives from all five UWI campuses, alongside students from universities and tertiary institutions across several countries.

International participants included representatives from the University of Winnipeg and Brock University in Canada, North-West University in South Africa, the University of Guyana and the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaican institutions were also represented, including the Caribbean Maritime University, Northern Caribbean University, Shortwood Teachers’ College and the College of Agricultural Science and Education.

One of the conference’s central attractions was its Entrepreneurship Expo, which featured 14 student entrepreneurs presenting their businesses to attendees and industry representatives.

The exhibition offered participants an opportunity to introduce their products and services, gain exposure and establish connections that could support future business development.

The wider programme also encouraged academic exchange, allowing students from different disciplines and countries to share research and explore potential areas for collaboration.

Conference Examines the Future of Caribbean Leadership

Organised under the theme “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Leaders Toward 2050: Imagining Roles, Rights, Responsibilities and Relationships,” the conference examined the changing expectations facing universities and their graduates.

The initiative was developed through The UWI’s Office of the Board for Undergraduate Studies, led by Professor Canute Thompson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies and Conference Chair.

Its programme focused on three interconnected areas: academic research, entrepreneurship and leadership development.

Through presentations and discussions, participants considered how technological advancements, changing employment patterns and economic uncertainty could influence the opportunities available to future generations.

Topics included youth unemployment, governance, innovation ethics and the implications of emerging technologies for education and employment.

The discussions also explored how undergraduate education could contribute more directly to sustainable development, economic resilience and social progress throughout the Caribbean.

UWI Leaders Advocate Stronger Links Between Education and Innovation

UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles used the occasion to reinforce the importance of universities contributing to society beyond their traditional teaching responsibilities.

He called attention to the role of higher education in generating ideas, advancing research and supporting innovations capable of addressing practical challenges.

Professor Thompson described the conference as “a place for ideas and new thinking.”

He also positioned the gathering as part of a broader institutional commitment, “purposed to shape the future of undergraduate studies.”

That vision, he explained, involves examining “how we create a better world and a stronger region.”

The conference reflected an effort to create more opportunities for students to apply their academic knowledge, develop entrepreneurial skills and participate in discussions influencing the region’s future.

Jamaican Government Backs Student Leadership Initiative

The conference also received support from the Jamaican government, with two ministers participating in its opening ceremony.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Delano Seiveright, and Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr Dana Morris Dixon, delivered addresses recognising the importance of preparing young people for leadership and economic participation.

Their involvement highlighted the potential for closer cooperation between governments, educational institutions and the private sector in advancing student development.

For The UWI, the inaugural IUSLCEE established a platform for showcasing undergraduate achievement while encouraging stronger international academic and entrepreneurial networks.

With students from 11 countries participating, the conference also demonstrated the growing importance of cross-border collaboration in preparing young people to respond to economic, technological and social challenges.

The initiative places undergraduate research, business innovation and leadership development within a broader conversation about the Caribbean’s long-term competitiveness and the role young people will play in shaping the region through 2050.