Momentum is building for the long-awaited expansion of The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus, as government officials and international partners confirm that the project is now entering its pre-construction stage.
After months of architectural work, the design phase has officially been completed, paving the way for the university’s transformation into a full-fledged regional hub for higher learning.
Education Minister Daryll Matthew met this week with a high-level delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development, which is financing the project, to finalize timelines and review next steps.
“We’ve entered a critical phase,” Minister Matthew said. “This week’s meetings are focused on ensuring that all the pieces — design, project management, and logistics — are fully aligned before we move to construction.”
The expansion will include state-of-the-art dormitories, a sports complex, and a new School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, designed to integrate advanced technology and digital learning into every discipline. Construction drawings are expected to be completed within weeks, after which the project will be opened for international tender.
Matthew described the design as “modern, sustainable, and future-ready,” with features such as solar power, water treatment systems, full IT integration, and accessibility infrastructure.
Work has already begun on the new Five Islands Primary School, which is being relocated to accommodate the university’s expansion. The move signals that the project is entering its active phase, with the construction start date to follow the upcoming 90-day tender process.
Transforming Education in the OECS
Once complete, the expanded campus is expected to be a game-changer for Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Eastern Caribbean, addressing the region’s low tertiary enrollment rate and creating new pathways for advanced education.
“This is not just a building project,” Matthew emphasized. “It’s a national and regional investment in human capital. The new UWI Five Islands Campus will transform our country, our students, and our future.”
The UWI expansion stands as one of the government’s most ambitious educational undertakings to date, symbolizing a new chapter in the country’s pursuit of innovation, sustainability, and academic excellence.
Great progress The campus expansion will open doors for more local and regional students.
Comment *MG you have them people money is now you breaking ground?
While we support development, please ensure the community of Five Islands is not pushed aside. Engage residents in the process.
Kudos to Minister Matthew and the team for pushing this forward. The design sounds impressive and future-ready.
The vision is fantastic, but consistent maintenance and long-term funding will be key. We’ve built beautiful things before that didn’t age well.
This expansion is long overdue and will finally give our young people a real chance to study at home. Proud moment for Antigua and Barbuda.
Love to see this level of planning and partnership. Modern facilities, AI labs, renewable energy this is exactly where the region needs to be heading.
Happy to see things moving along
And four years later and we still here lol. I suppose just the day before election we will actually see steel laying down on the ground. Politics
I truly hope the tender process is transparent and competitive. A project of this scale must be above politics.
This is the kind of progress we need. If UWI Five Islands really breaks ground soon, it could transform higher education opportunities for our young people.
The public still needs clarity on the cost breakdown and repayment terms with the Saudi Fund. Education is important, but so is accountability.