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Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – The College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT) today hosted the latest edition of its Innovation Café Series titled “The Future of Higher Education.” The virtual session, moderated by COSTAATT President Dr. Keith Nurse, brought together a panel of international academic leaders to explore how artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, equity, and innovation are reshaping tertiary education globally and in the Caribbean.
“As institutions, we must become more agile, more entrepreneurial, and more engaged in shaping the future—not just reacting to it,” said Dr. Nurse in his opening remarks. “We are being called to reimagine higher education as a driver of equity, innovation, and economic dynamism.”
Featured panelists included:
· Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice Chancellor, University of Guyana
· Dr. Rhonda McEwen, President and Vice Chancellor, Victoria University at the University of Toronto
· Dr. Grant Cornwell, President, Rollins College (Florida, USA)
· Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez, President, University of St. Martin
In her thoughtful contribution, Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin shared the unique historical context and mission of the University of Guyana. She addressed the recent implementation of tuition-free education and the operational, equity, and inclusion challenges it brings. “It’s not a simple thing to have to manage,” she said. “It does offer opportunities for many people who would not have had them, but it has to be handled well. We also have to invest in the systems that make education truly accessible.”
Dr. Rhonda McEwen detailed how Victoria University is embedding AI throughout its operations, from streamlining policy reviews to enhancing student services. Speaking to the implications of AI for academic integrity and curriculum design, she stated, “There’s no real point in trying to identify students who are using AI—we need to ask, what are we preparing students for? We have to train the next citizens and workers to be discerning and critical users of these tools.”
Dr. Grant Cornwell discussed how Rollins College in Florida is preserving academic freedom in a politically polarized environment while pursuing an entrepreneurial approach to higher education. He introduced plans to launch a new School of Leadership and Management as an independent non-profit LLC, designed to deliver rapid, bespoke training for corporate and industry partners. “Unless we remain sufficiently agile so that students from all backgrounds can thrive, we are on a path towards irrelevance,” he said.
Representing the small-island context of St. Martin, Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez emphasised the value of regional collaboration and locally grounded research. In addressing the Caribbean’s reliance on tourism, he said: “We are looking at sustainable tourism—not just how to greenwash the cruise industry, but how to reconnect with our biodiversity, our heritage, and the constantly changing geological structures of our islands. Sometimes innovation means looking back to foundational knowledge to answer today’s questions.”
Dr. Nurse closed the session by reaffirming the importance of higher education institutions becoming engines of social equity, economic competitiveness, and technological adaptation. “We’re not just training students—we’re preparing leaders for a digital, interconnected world. This means investing in people, in platforms, and in purposeful collaboration,” he said.
The Innovation Café Series continues to serve as a vital space for regional and international dialogue on education and societal advancement. The next session which will focus on Artificial Intelligence is scheduled for April 30, 2025. For more information, visit www.costaatt.edu.tt or contact:
Media Contact: Taslim David Mark Marketing and Public Relations Officer [email protected] 📞 (868) 625-5030 ext. 6202
