Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal. Monday, May 12, 2025 ? Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Global Campus, Dr Francis O. Severin, delivered the keynote address at the Dominica Association of Teachers’ Annual General Meeting held on April 23, 2025.
Invited as the featured speaker, Dr Severin captivated educators from across the country with an inspiring message aligned with the meeting’s theme, Unite, Inspire, Achieve: The Power of Teamwork in Education, which highlighted the important role of collaboration, innovation, and professional development in advancing excellence.
In his keynote address, he reflected on the journey of education over the past two decades, drawing a comparison between the landscape in 2006 and the contemporary realities of today. He remarked that the COVID-19 Pandemic has taught us that all levels of education will never again bear a resemblance to what it was in the pre-COVID era. “The actual foundations of educational institutions were shaken, and their ability to deliver high-quality credentials and skills at all levels was severely undermined,” stated Dr Severin. He highlighted the pivotal role of The UWI Global Campus (formerly The UWI Open Campus) in maintaining continuity through online learning, while many institutions had to close their doors.
He also examined the profound impact of social media and the emergence of Industry 5.0. He noted that social media has revolutionised and impacted our lives, jobs, and professions and has influenced nearly every aspect of modern life. In his remarks about Industry 5.0, he stated, “Industry 5.0, the Fifth Industrial Revolution, is defined as a stage of industrialisation that 'enhances' Industry 4.0, by accentuating human-centric approaches, sustainability, and resilience.”
In expanding his thoughts on the evolving global landscape, Dr Severin spoke about the fragility of democracy, the emerging threats to academic freedom, and the societal pressures that inhibit open discourse. He stated, “No one in 2006 would have been discussing the likelihood of the loss of academic freedom at any university or higher education institution in the United States of America, let alone its top universities. Stated differently, no one in 2006 would have thought that universities would be constrained to make a choice between academic freedom or disposing of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).”
In underscoring the role of educators in navigating these complexities, Severin encouraged the teachers to embrace a high degree of self-efficacy as they pursue this “covenant”. He stated, “Teamwork in and of itself, while a sine qua non to achieving your objective, must be based on premises that are relevant, practical and aim to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of your students as you prepare them for an uncertain future. If you are not confident in doing this task or if you lack self-efficacy, then you will not achieve optimal outcomes and excellent performance in your students.”
In exploring the relationship between self-efficacy, teamwork and Industry 5.0, Dr Severin noted that from his perspective, the most compelling features of Industry 5.0 include a human-centric approach that puts people’s well-being at the heart of production; sustainability through reduced environmental impact and circular economy practices; resilience in building systems that can adapt to disruption; meaningful collaboration between humans and machines to drive innovation, cultivate synergy and boost productivity; and a strong sense of social responsibility, where industry plays a key role in addressing global challenges and advancing the greater good.
Dr Severin noted that for professional unions of teachers and educators, such as the Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT), to remain impactful and relevant, they must actively support and equip their members to adapt to the principles of Industry 5.0. This includes ensuring access to modern education and training opportunities. “This will, in turn, provide teachers with the self-confidence that they require to produce optimal outcomes in their students,” he stated. He further noted, “There is power in unity, and there is strength and confidence in numbers, which will certainly result from teachers supporting each other as a united group that faces similar challenges.”
He further urged the Dominica Association of Teachers to embrace the concept of Responsible Leadership, a principle often associated with political figures, but equally important to teachers and educators who have the critical task of training current and future citizens. Citing Yücel (2023), Dr Severin explained that Responsible Leadership focuses squarely on the principles of accountability, appropriate moral decision-making, and trust. At its core, it aims to clarify what it truly means to lead responsibly. This approach calls on leaders to navigate the complexities of globalisation, foster trust, and engage meaningfully with stakeholders, all in pursuit of advancing the greater good.
He called on the Dominica Association of Teachers to embrace the synergy and complementarities between technology and humanity, as outlined in Industry 5.0, and to find inspiration in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Stressing the vital role educators play in achieving targets such as poverty eradication, quality education and sustainable and modern energy for all, he emphasised that teachers are essential agents of national and global development.
He also highlighted the launch of The University of the West Indies’ International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global business school dedicated solely to online graduate programmes that focus on leadership and transformation, firmly rooted in the spirit and practice of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ISDJ is set up to equip professionals with the leadership skills, innovation, and ethical grounding needed to drive sustainable development. He noted that the Global Campus is proud to have been selected as the location of this major University-wide initiative. “The Campus has a rich history with its institutional precursors which have enhanced the quality of life, in imponderable ways, of thousands of Caribbean people via The UWI Distance Education Teaching Experiment (UWIDITE); The UWI Distance Education Centres (UWIDEC); the School of Continuing Studies and the Open Campus, the immediate predecessor of the Global Campus”, said Dr Severin.
As he concluded his speech, he reflected on the importance of building successful teams, a concept closely linked to the spirit of SDG 17, which encourages partnerships. He stated that Mealiea and Baltazar (2005), in their article “A Strategic Guide for Building Effective Teams,” highlight several key attributes that contribute to team success, including collaboration, networking, role/goal knowledge and team orientation. Listening, open communication, and regular self-assessment are also crucial for teams to evolve and adapt, particularly in the rapidly changing educational landscape, Dr Severin stated.
He told the members of the Dominica Association of Teachers that they are a formidable force shaping the future of education in the Commonwealth of Dominica. “As educators, you must be innovative and even radically depart from the mundane chalk and talk. You must be agents of change. You must strive to ground your teaching in existential reality and experience, whether in virtual or physical classrooms. Only by inspiring your members and by providing responsible and ethical leadership, will we have a bright future,” stated Dr Severin.
Disclaimer
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
Dominica News