CIBC Caribbean and UWI Renew Landmark MOU, Deepening A 22-Year Partnership 

The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, and CIBC Caribbean have renewed one of the region’s longest-standing and most transformative private-sector partnerships, signing a new three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) valued at US $360,000.

The partnership, first formalised in 2003, was described as a “win-win-win relationship” by UWI Principal Professor R. Clive Landis, benefiting the bank, the university, and most importantly students across the Caribbean.

CIBC Caribbean’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the CIBC Caribbean ComTrust Foundation, Mr. Mark St. Hill, said the partnership holds deep sentimental value, noting that it was the first MOU the bank signed after forming in 2002.

“Our bank has transformed over the years and has done exceptionally well in digital innovation. More than 90 percent of our programmers and software engineers are products of this university. You have been integral to our growth,” St. Hill told the audience.

He emphasised the bank’s unwavering belief that financial hardship must never limit the ambitions of the region’s brightest young minds.

“We are pleased to continue offering 15 undergraduate scholarships. I’ve met many of the winners over the years; their stories are inspiring—and many of them boldly treat me as their personal banker to this day,” he joked.

Professor Landis noted that since 2003, CIBC Caribbean has contributed more than US $2 million to the University, including:

US $600,000 in undergraduate scholarships, Support for nearly 300 students and over US $345,000 to develop student entrepreneurs through the Student Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Development (SEED) programme

He highlighted that the MOU is the most ambitious to date, covering scholarships, research grants, technology upgrades, innovation funding, and support for students with disabilities.

Under the new agreement, funding will support:

15 undergraduate scholarships

US $30,000 for students in the BSc Software Engineering joint programme with Suzhou Global Institute, China

• US $17,500 in bursaries for students with disabilities
• US $10,000 to the Student Hardship Fund
• US $50,000 for banking and finance research
• US $18,000 to advance digital banking literacy
• US $42,500 to upgrade the CIBC Caribbean computer lab
• US $45,000 for entrepreneurship development
• US $15,000 for the annual Frank Worrell Memorial Lecture

Professor Landis stressed that the impact reaches beyond academia.

“This partnership is not symbolic, it is economically consequential. These investments strengthen the development of a labour force with the technological and analytical competencies required by a modern Caribbean economy,” he said

The Principal also praised the bank’s swift response following Hurricane Melissa, which left several Jamaican students at Cave Hill in financial distress.

“CIBC responded swiftly, contributing scholarships to ensure those students could stabilize their circumstances. This was an act of meaningful solidarity.”

Both parties highlighted the value of the Software Engineering 2+2 programme with China, producing graduates fluent in Chinese and globally competitive in mobile technologies.

CIBC’s CEO confirmed that many of these graduates now form the backbone of the bank’s digital transformation.

“Our award-winning mobile app and many innovations have been developed by bright young graduates from this very campus,” St. Hill said.

He highlighted the success of the bank’s Technology Immersion and Innovation Program (TIIP), launched in 2022, which saw 12 young graduates gaining full-time employment.

The MOU affirms CIBC Caribbean’s continued commitment to education, innovation, and community development.

“This renewed agreement ensures that access to opportunity is based on academic ability—not financial means,” Professor Landis said.

“We look forward to unearthing even more talent as we work together to build the digital and economic future of the Caribbean.”