The relevance of economics training at UWI/Caribbean universities for Caribbean Economic Development:retrospect and prospect.

The St. Augustine Experience

Order of Presentation

•Growth of the St. Augustine Economics students’ body.

•The St. Augustine economics curriculum.

•Limitations of the St. Augustine curriculum.

•Recommendations•Conclusions

Growth of the Econ Students’ Body

Where Do St. A. Econ Students Come From?

The St. Augustine Economics Curriculum

•Subject matter covered at the undergraduate level- Courses - Projects

•The postgraduate degree (MSc.)- Courses- Research

Limitations

• Insufficient levels of continuous research on the Caribbean Economic reality.

•There is a lack of awareness of the role that young economists play in shaping economics in the region.

•Significant emphasis on Trinidad economics or the economics of the larger economies within the English speaking Caribbean.

•Does not reflect sufficiently the economic issues that the rest of the region has to grapple with on a regular basis.

Recommendations

•Development of a proper central research institute responsible for continuous research of Caribbean economic matters.

•Proper marketing of the economics degree.

•A need for a more regional focus in the delivery of course material and research.