News Release issued September19,2008
For the second time in a row, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has won top honours in the Association of Commonwealth Universities’ (ACU) PR, Marketing and Communications Awards. This year, UWI placed first in the bulletin and newsletter category with “The Pelican” magazine, and first in the website category for the electronic magazine “STAN Online”.
The bulletins and newsletter category—which UWI won for “The Pelican” —was the largest campaign category in the awards competition, with the most entries. The entries were judged based on innovation, creative thinking, understanding of readers’ interests, and the extent of the publications’ appeal to their target audience.
According to the ACU, the submissions for the 2008 awards were of such high quality that the process of choosing a winner in each category was particularly challenging, so much so that two awards were distributed in some categories.
Distributed locally and internationally, and produced by an editorial team spanning UWI’s three main campuses, “The Pelican” is the University’s flagship magazine. Featuring articles from a cross-section of UWI faculty, students and alumni, “The Pelican” provides the Caribbean, and those interested in Caribbean issues, with an insight into the University and the region.
UWI’s “STAN” magazine, which previously received an ACU award for publication excellence in 2006 for its print version, won the 2008 website category for its online version “STAN Online” based on its relevant and important editorial context, accessibility, clean and informed navigation, consistency in design, and application of the University’s identity throughout the website.
“STAN” shares news and views about the research, community service and teaching programmes of the St Augustine, Trinidad Campus. Additionally, it provides easy access for all persons, including the visually impaired.
All 2008 winners received bursaries to attend the ACU’s second, international conference, which was held in Durban, South Africa in July 2008, and had their entries displayed at the conference. Mrs. De Four Gill, UWI Marketing and Communications Director, was on hand to receive UWI’s trophies.
“We always look forward to entering the awards as it’s a chance not only to promote UWI’s work, but also to have our public relations and marketing activities assessed and recognised by an international panel of experts,” says Mrs Dawn-Marie De Four-Gill, University & Campus Director – Marketing & Communications. “This is the second, consecutive ACU award for the Marketing and Communications Department, as we were recognised for publication excellence in 2006 for the print version of ‘STAN’ and our ‘Experience UWI’ Undergraduate Prospectus.”
Established in 1913, the Association of Commonwealth Universities is the oldest inter-university network in the world. The ACU launched its PR, Marketing & Communications Awards in 2006 to share, encourage and reward good practice among higher education institutions.
The ACU PR, Marketing and Communications Awards aim to recognise, encourage and celebrate achievements of higher education institutions and their professionals, and to draw attention to models of good practice for the higher education sector internationally. ACU membership comprises nearly 500 universities from the Commonwealth countries of Africa and Asia, Australasia and the South Pacific, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Malta.
About UWI
The University of the West Indies is a contemporary, international tertiary education institution offering innovative programmes, modern facilities and collaborative links with over sixty institutions worldwide. The UWI is the largest internationally accredited university in the region, serving over 40,000 local, regional and international students. UWI is committed to be first in the development of new knowledge unique to the Caribbean and small-island states, and to be the first port of call for Caribbean governments seeking advice and technical expertise for policy development, strategic planning and programme implementation. Persons interested in making donations to the UWI can do so by contributing to the University Campus Endowment Funds, scholarship funds, academic chairs, and new facilities.
About UWI 60th Anniversary
The University of the West Indies is a sixty-year-old institution which has produced over 80,000 graduates at the forefront of their fields. Our graduates are two Nobel Laureates of Caribbean descent, the vast majority of Rhodes scholars, more than ten current and former heads of government, and the Presidents of the regional banks. As the culmination of the yearlong 60th Anniversary Celebrations, a gala black-tie dinner will be hosted by UWI St. Augustine Campus on December 12th, 2008. Proceeds from all UWI 60th Anniversary initiatives will be channelled into a special UWI Regional Endowment Fund, which will facilitate infrastructural projects across the region. For more information on the UWI 60th Anniversary, please visit www.uwi.edu/60 or contact the UWI 60th Anniversary Secretariat at uwi60thsecretariat@uwimona.edu.jm; (Tel.) 876 977 0014, Ext. 2525; UWI 60th Anniversary Secretariat, Office of the Vice Chancellor, UWI Mona, Jamaica or the Local Organising Committee at uwi60staugustine@sta.uwi.edu (Tel) 868 662-2002 Ext. 3635.
