The President of Northern Caribbean University, Prof. Lincoln P. Edwards, DDS, PhD has been announced as the new Caribbean Co-Chair of the Canada-Caribbean Institute (CCI). The Board of Directors made this announcement on September 26, 2024.
The Canada-Caribbean Institute (CCI) was established in 2020. The CCI’s mission is to bring together scholars from across Canada and the Caribbean to collaborate on economic, environmental and social issues that contribute to the shared prosperity of both regions. Currently made up of 12 colleges and universities, the CCI supports research on a range of key policy areas including health; climate change; advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals; trade and investment; Caribbean culture and the diaspora; and government and foreign relations, among other areas.
President Edwards is taking on the duties of Caribbean Co-Chair of the CCI from Sir Hilary Beckles, Pro Vice Chancellor of The University of the West Indies. PVC Beckles served as Caribbean Co-Chair since the establishment of the CCI and is demitting office at the conclusion of his term as founding Co-Chair.
“Northern Caribbean University’s leadership role within the CCI represents an opportunity to build on our history of innovation in education and on the collaborative research and academic partnerships that the Caribbean has long had with Canada,” says NCU President Edwards.
“Involvement in the CCI will expand our research activities and allow Northern Caribbean University to contribute to important policy discussions impacting our two regions.”
President Edwards is hoping to advance several issues during his tenure, including,
- Expansion of the CCI to include more institutions from both Canada and the Caribbean. This will allow for greater opportunities for collaboration between Canadian and Caribbean institutions. Consequently, scholars from the Caribbean are more likely to remain in the region while they travel and perform joint projects in research and other areas with their Canadian counterparts. This will assist in the development of the region and is a preferred approach to the alternative whereby brilliant scholars simply migrate partly due to lack of adequate support for research.
- Facilitation of greater dialogue to determine a suitable and sustainable mechanism by which Caribbean universities can train more skilled personnel such as health care workers, truck drivers etc. to meet the growing needs of Canadian companies. Conversely, greater dialogue is also needed to determine how Canadian universities, and their researchers can facilitate the energy needs of the Caribbean such as development of small nuclear reactors. Lack of cheaper sources of energy is a hindrance to regional productivity.
- Continuing to focus on climate change and emerging diseases.
- Increase the emphasis on cultural exchange, agricultural and tourism products.
Edwards is co-chair of the CCI with David Farrar, President of McMaster University, the CCI’s lead Canadian partner.
“Canadian and Caribbean post-secondary institutions have a long history of academic and research collaboration, and the CCI is playing an important role in strengthening those partnerships,” says Farrar.
“President Edwards’ leadership will be invaluable as CCI member institutions continue working to address the significant social, environmental and economic challenges facing our two regions, and as we deepen our historic ties.”
The CCI is developing a range of programming to engage and support member institutions including panel discussions, an online discussion forum, webinars and symposia.
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About President Lincoln Edwards
Professor Lincoln Edwards serves as President of Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville Jamaica. He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI), and Loma Linda University (LLU) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (Special), a PhD in Pharmacology, and a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree.
His life and work has impacted many across the globe. He has spearheaded several dental missions in the United States and Jamaica and has over the past six years helped hundreds of individuals to access free dental services in the parishes of Kingston, St. Catherine, Clarendon and Manchester.
Professor Edwards is a published researcher in the area of diabetes and hypertension with over fifty peer reviewed papers and abstracts and has obtained two National Institutes of Health grants in the United States of America. Amidst his hectic professional and philanthropic schedule, he still finds the time to work for the Lord and is an experienced Lay Preacher and has served in various capacities within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. See www.ncu.edu.jm/meetourleaders for more information
About Northern Caribbean University
Northern Caribbean University (NCU) is a private, liberal-arts institution, located in Jamaica, that is owned and operated by the Jamaica Union Conference and the Atlantic Caribbean Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists (comprising the territories the Bahamas, Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands). With its main campus only 2 miles south of the town of Mandeville, in Manchester, and three regional campuses situated in Kingston, Montego Bay and St. Ann, this university offers a number of professional, pre-professional and vocational programmes in a spiritually wholesome and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. See www.ncu.edu.jm/wearencu for more information.
About the Canada-Caribbean Institute
Canada-Caribbean Institute (CCI) is a collaborative initiative between colleges and universities in Canada and the Caribbean. Its mission is to connect academic institutions, scholars, businesses, public sectors, civil society, and cultural communities. The CCI aims to advance social, environmental, and economic issues vital to both regions’ shared prosperity.
The annual CCI Research Symposium provides a forum for discussion and knowledge exchange. This year’s symposium focuses on Climate Crisis, Resilience, and Alternative Energy Sources. See www.canadacaribbeaninstitute.org for more information.