By Claude Mills, Staff ReporterTHE INVASION of international trade rules into relationships that academic institutions have forged over time emerged yesterday as one of the issues now engaging Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Kenneth Hall, principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus.
Professor Hall, who was delivering the opening address at the 30th annual Dr. Ena Thomas Memorial Symposium on Gastroenterology/Hepatology at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, commented on emerging trends where long-standing relationships characterised by academic exchanges and trade agreements between former colonies and their former masters were being successfully challenged by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"The dominant trend now in knowledge and in knowledge creation and their applications, suggests a completely different approach, and that approach emphasises collaboration, not merely as a desirable strategy for institutions, but frankly, a necessity," Professor Hall told an audience that included Dr. Niall Finlayson, president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, who also delivered a lecture at the three-day symposium last Friday.
Professor Hall outlined the admirable role played in the Caribbean by the Edinburgh School of Medicine, throughout the 20th century, producing such medical stalwarts in Jamaican medicine as Edinburgh graduates A.L Carnegie, Sydney Martin, Leila and Courtney Wedderburn, and Herbert Morrison.
"Over time, the relationship has not been as strong as it used to be. However, by establishing our own DM programme, many of our students have found that they have no need to go overseas, and now we have created our own graduates," he said, a hint of pride creeping into his voice.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor said the time was now "ripe for renewal" of the relationship between the Royal College and UWI, and used his address as a platform to lobby for a stronger, reciprocal relationship between the two institutions of learning.
"Edinburgh has continued to pursue excellence in its educational objectives. More than that, we believe our own graduates, even those who have completed their graduate programmes, will still find it desirably necessary to continue and become fellows of the Royal College," he said.
"Partnership collaboration is now the order of the day in educational institutions, and we can do so in a variety of ways... In short, everywhere, universities are now forced to leave their environment and to seek knowledge and the elaboration of their own research elsewhere," Professor Hall said.
Dr. Ena Thomas-Litchmore was a very able consultant physician on the staff of the Kingston Public Hospital for 17 years. Her untimely passing in November 1973 led to the formation of the Memorial Trust by her colleagues, family, friends and the public she served well.
