The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus celebrated another milestone on Thursday as 432 students graduated from its Life Long Learning Unit (LLLU), marking one of the largest cohorts to date.

The event, held at the campus’s Assembly Hall, drew a packed audience including Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, university officials, family members, and friends who came to celebrate the achievements of the graduates.

Head of the Life Long Learning Unit, Paula Lee, expressed pride in the growing appetite for professional development across Antigua and Barbuda. “The hunger for continued growth and training is evident,” she said. “Every year, we see more people seizing the opportunity to upskill, advance their careers, and contribute to national development.”

Sir Rodney Williams presented certificates to the top achievers in each course. The overall top performer was Mrs. Nickishia Carr-Ramkellawan, an employee of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), who successfully completed four courses and earned the highest average. Her employer, she noted, had been instrumental in supporting her educational journey.

Delivering the feature address, UWI Five Islands Campus Registrar, Dr. Camille Samuel, urged the graduates to embrace humility and empathy as they pursue success. “As you move through life, you must listen, truly listen, to others,” she said. “Respect differing views, move with purpose, and always strive to uplift those around you. When we fail to act with understanding, we invite chaos.”

Dr. Samuel encouraged graduates to use their new knowledge to make a positive impact. “You came to us eager to learn, and now you leave equipped to do more — not only for yourselves but for your communities. We expect you to expand your potential and that of others,” she added.

Among the graduates were eleven inmates from His Majesty’s Prison who participated in the Seeds of Hope Programme, an initiative that provides incarcerated individuals with educational opportunities and scholarships to support rehabilitation and reintegration.

Looking ahead, the Life Long Learning Unit has already released its new catalogue of courses for the upcoming academic year and is encouraging those eager to acquire new skills to register early.