The University of the West Indies (The UWI) anticipates welcoming the first cohort of Caribbean nationals to its joint Masters in Global African Studies with the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

Prospective students from The UWI’s contributing countries have a unique opportunity to access full tuition scholarships for enrolment in January 2025. The flagship offering under the Institute of Global African Affairs is designed for anyone committed to the sustainable development of Africa and the Caribbean, including students of sociology, culture and heritage studies, mid-career NGO and public sector professionals, Pan African, and other social activists.

An innovative, fully-online, one year degree programme, the MA in Global African Studies comprises modules in Pan-African Thought, Critical Development Theories, and Social Policy and allows students to gain knowledge from distinguished UWI and UJ faculty. It addresses critical issues such as climate change, gender equity, and poverty alleviation within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, equipping graduates to impact development policies and practices, fostering integrated and holistic advancement across the Global African diaspora.

Commenting on the programme, Dr Halimah DeShong, Co-Director UJ/UWI Joint Institute for Global African Studies stated, “The UWI is proud to offer funding for Caribbean scholars to grow their capacity to impact the advancement of the global role of Africa and the diaspora in the 21st Century. This programme and our partnership with the University of Johannesburg reflects our commitment to development-focused education and to shaping a generation equipped to address the challenges and leverage the opportunities within the African and Caribbean contexts.”

The MA Global African Studies is in its second year with graduates studying exclusively at the University of Johannesburg. To qualify for entry, prospects are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Programme administrators have further explained that work-experience and a demonstrated interest in Global Africa will also serve as primary admissions criteria, with successful candidates joining a dynamic network of scholars from both regions. Prospective

students are invited to apply through the Cave Hill Campus for both admission and scholarships simultaneously.

The deadline for both scholarship and enrolment applications is November 29, 2024. Interested persons can learn more and apply at https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/MAGlobalAfricanStudies.