[3] As the UWI vice-chancellor noted, the post-secondary education participation rate of students of the OECS sub-region was significantly below that of the countries with landed campuses and even the rest of the hemisphere.
However, the Prime Minister is continuing to seek funding to expand the campus, including a possible USD 20 million donation from China.
[8] On 27 May 2019, the University Finance and General Purposes Committee (UF&GPC) of the UWI System approved the establishment of Five Islands campus.
The building itself was originally built by a Chinese state construction firm for a secondary school that was never opened, due to a change of government.
[10] In an effort to make the University more attractive, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda said it will be offering scholarships to students from across six countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).