Dr Robert W. Robertson, President and Chief Executive Officer of University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) is the first to be awarded Principal Fellowship in the Cayman Islands.
UCCI is relatively new to Advance HE membership, joining in 2024 to explore fellowship for staff to recognise their support for teaching and learning. Dr Robertson is the third Advance HE fellow in the islands and the first Principal Fellow.
Principal Fellowship is awarded to individuals who demonstrate a sustained record of effectiveness in strategic leadership of high-quality learning and can show that the leadership has had extensive impact.
Dr Robertson said,
“I found the process of Principal Fellowship to be a very well-structured and reflective exercise of personal and professional value. It was a very interesting opportunity to reflect on the various projects and initiatives of importance in my career. The evidence-based nature of the process was particularly valuable and enjoyable.
“During my career, I have been fortunate to work with dedicated teams of individuals and with organisations committed to assisting students reach their personal and professional goals. I am honored to receive this prestigious recognition.”
The recognition was based, in part, on the innovations introduced by Dr Robertson in the Caribbean including the introduction of certified technical and vocational training; initiating and leading a national digital literacy project with industry certifications; promoting the use of evidence-based management to identify and address national and regional skills gaps and developing and delivering a program to provide workforce ready skills within a prison system.
Ian Hall, Head of Membership (International) at Advance HE, said,
“My warmest congratulations to Dr Roberston on his Principal Fellowship. This recognition is testament to his dedication to supporting learning and teaching across the world, including within UCCI.
“It’s always a pleasure to see institutional leaders applying for fellowship, showing a commitment at the highest level to learning and teaching. We look forward to recognising more fellows at UCCI!”
Dr Robertson currently holds a Senior Research Fellowship with the Commonwealth Institute, School of Advanced Studies, University of London. He previously served as the first President of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (2016-2022) and he has more than 25 years’ experience leading award-winning academic institutions.
In 2011, he received an Award of Excellence as an Online Administrator from Pearson. In 2016, he was named a Fulbright Specialist by the US Department of State, and an Honorary Business Chair and Professor at Nan Jeon University of Science and Technology in Taiwan. In 2023 he was named an International Scholar by Global Affairs Canada.
He has served as a Visiting Professor (2006-2020) at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia and taught in Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Find out more about Fellowship and how it can support you in your career development here.