FIVE academic pioneers at the University of the West Indies (UWI) have been awarded for their outstanding contribution to the development of the institution at the 19th Annual Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence held recently at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge & Conference Centre on the Kingston campus.

The five are Dr Grace Sirju-Charran from the Faculty of Science & Technology, and Professor Zulaika Ali from the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the St Augustine campus in Trinidad; Professor Eddy Ventose from the Faculty of Law and Professor Hazel Oxenford from the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) at the Cave Hill campus in Barbados; along with Professor Mark Figueroa from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Mona campus.

This year, the awards were made in five categories, namely; University Service, Teaching, Research, Public Service, and Research & Public Service.

Professor Mark Figueroa, the only Jamaican selected for the special honour by the Vice-Chancellor, was awarded in the category of University Service.

Prof Figueroa was singled out for his work during his tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, where he undertook several initiatives resulting in the transformation of the operational culture of the faculty and, by extension, the university as a whole. He was also chosen for formal recognition based on the major role he played in the formulation of several university-wide policies, including those on plagiarism, ethics, distance education, and differential workloads for academics. He has also helped to pioneer the hallmark initiative of giving students early placement offers based on their first year Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination results.

Dr Sirju-Charran received the Award for Excellence in Teaching for her pioneering work in course development at the UWI in the fields of science and agriculture.

Her service to the teaching fraternity has been recognised with a number of other accolades, including: the NIHERST Gold Medal received in 2011 for her contribution to plant science, the UWI/Guardian Life Premium Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2009, and the UWI/Cable & Wireless Fellowship in Distance Education in 1998.

Prof Ventose, the youngest professor to have received the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence copped his honours for Research.

Since joining the Faculty of Law, Cave Hill campus, in 2006, his research and publication record has been prolific, despite maintaining a heavy teaching load plus administrative duties. He has produced over 40 peer-reviewed scholarly articles in some of the most highly regarded international law journals, and had a book published in 2011. He is expected to publish two other books before the year ends. He was promoted to Professor in May 2012 at the age of 35 — the youngest person in the history of UWI ever to be so honoured.

Prof Ali, a neonatologist, was awarded for public service.

The Professor of Child Health was selected based on the exemplary role she played, not only as the Campus Co-Coordinator of the UWI HIV/AIDS Response Programme, but for her work in extensive charitable projects with several organisations; providing assistance to children, victims of rape, and members of underprivileged communities of Trinidad and Tobago.

Prof Oxenford was awarded in the Research and Public Service category.

She is said to be a devoted teacher, scholar, ecologist, and fisheries scientist, who is passionately engaged at the local, regional and international levels in programmes aimed at achieving sustainable development for the Caribbean. Since joining CERMES in 1992, her work as a researcher and environmental advocate has brought high honour and distinctions to the UWI.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence is a reward programme of the UWI, which is geared at selecting annually, some of the top-performing professors and lecturers who have made outstanding contributions in research and service.

Vice-Chancellor Professor E Nigel Harris, in his brief remarks, said the group of five were deserving of their awards and that the occasion was one for “celebrating some of the most spectacular persons the university has”.

Principal and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UWI, Mona, Professor Gordon Shirley reiterated these sentiments adding that it was an occasion aimed at celebrating with colleagues who have worked hard.