(Jamaica Observer) – The University of the West Indies (UWI) is preparing to allow 200 Haitian university students whose schooling have been affected by the January 12 earthquake to complete their degrees at its three campuses.

This is a part of the Caribbean Community’s (Caricom) efforts to provide aid to the French-speaking nation following the quake, and was announced by Vice Chancellor Professor E Nigel Harris, at a recent media clinic.

Professor Harris said that the Mona Campus in Jamaica would be accepting 100 students, St Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, 75, while the Cave Hill Campus in Barbados would accept 25.

“The idea is that we will concentrate our efforts on those students who are in their last year of their degree programmes and in areas of need, in terms of what they can contribute to Haiti,” Professor Harris said.

Some of the areas of study which, he said, are critical are agricultural sciences, engineering and library sciences.

The UWI vice chancellor said the regional university would also be looking at ways it could help to frame a broad education policy for Haiti as it seeks to rebuild.

At the same time, he appealed for other universities in the Spanish and French-speaking Caribbean to accept students wherever possible. The media clinic was held ahead of the 31st Meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government, which will take place from July 4 to 7 at the Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, St James.

Haiti’s reconstruction, climate change, the global economic recession and regional trade are the topics expected to feature prominently at the meeting.