THE Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has expressed pride that its chairman, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, has been appointed the new chairman/chancellor of the United Nations University.

“This is a proud moment for the Caribbean. Sir Hilary’s life’s work and ongoing contributions to the UN over the years are in alignment with the overarching goal of the United Nations University, to contribute through collaborative research and education, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems of human survival, development, and welfare,” said Dr Wayne Wesley, registrar and CEO of CXC.

“In extending our heartiest congratulations to Sir Hilary on this high appointment, CXC acknowledges his formidable body of work as a foremost Caribbean scholar and global thought leader, and the tremendous value this brings to the mission of the United Nations.

“We wish Sir Hilary good success as he brings his trademark leadership and grace to this important assignment,” said Wesley.

The United Nations University, at the sitting of its Governance Council on December 7, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan, unanimously appointed Sir Hilary to the post effective May 2025.

Noting that Sir Hilary has established a global reputation as a strategic planner in higher education, respected scholar, and thought leader in development thinking, the council expressed its keenness to work under his chairmanship as the university enters its 50th anniversary this year.

Sir Hilary has had a long and senior role in the affairs of the United Nations. He has served in many capacities, among them as consultant to the annual United Nations Development Report on Latin America and the Caribbean; committees on the Global Future of Higher Education; vice-president and historian to UNESCO’s flagship initiative, The Slave Routes Project; and recently as joint editor of Volume 9 of the UNESCO’s General History of Africa series.

He has twice addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations, first in support of the international community’s declaration of 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent; and secondly on matters of reparatory justice in a multi-polar political and economic world.

Recently, the United Nations Academic Impact Committee voted The University of the West Indies (The UWI), as the global hub for Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action (SDG 13) on account of Sir Hilary’s lead in the establishment of The UWI’s International School for Development Justice in 2024, aimed at delivery online postgraduate degree programmes on the SDGs.

He had earlier served as special advisor to United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon on sustainable development, who he invited and welcomed to The UWI, as well as current General Secretary Antonio Guterres.

The position of chairman/chancellor is honorary, with a mandate to facilitate the leadership of the rector/vice-chancellor of the university, and to guide the Council in a manner that sustains the confidence of international and internal stakeholders, primarily the leadership of the United Nations, faculty members and managers, private sector investors, and students.

The United Nations University is a global academy, headquartered in Tokyo, with research and teaching institutes in multiple countries. It is an academic and innovation think tank and research arm for the world community.

In accepting the appointment, Sir Hilary thanked members of university council, representatives of the United Nations and other organisations, for their expression of confidence. He assured them that as the university enters its 50th year under the management of its esteemed vice-chancellor, and the guidance of Council, it will continue to rise as one of the finest global universities.

He noted that his appointment is a signal honour for The UWI, whose reputation and international connectivity will be enhanced as well as the Caribbean, the hemisphere and in particular, emerging communities in the Global South.