Sir Arthur Lewis Community College formally launched the Vaughan A. Lewis Institute for Research and Innovation (VALIRI) on Thursday 13th October.

The ceremony recognized the life and work of Sir Vaughan A. Lewis for whom the institute is named. Vaughn Lewis’ leadership in the development and establishment of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and his guidance as first Chairman of the Board of Governors of the College was highlighted. The Vaughan A. Lewis Institute will seek to encourage and facilitate research that will produce knowledge and foster innovation for sustainable economic and social development of Saint Lucia. The Vaughan A. Lewis Institute for Research and Innovation (VALIRI) was born of a collaboration between SALCC and the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program UNDP (GEF) in an effort to encourage and facilitate research that will produce knowledge and foster innovation through academic and practical research for sustainable economic and social development of the Saint Lucian community.

SALCC and VALIRI are already engaged in ‘sustainable development projects that include a solarisation project involving the installation of photovoltaic panels on five households of the Morne Fortune community. Data will be collected and analysed for a period of twenty years to measure the impact of the use of solar power on the cost of electricity.

SALCC is on the cusp of developing into a university college and VALIRI is the catalyst for developing the research capacity of the university college by providing an avenue for the faculty and students to be involved in cutting edge research and on the ground solutions to problems. The institute will have a strong presence in the community and will pursue ties with and collaborate in the continued development of Civil Society Organisations.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.