The University of the West Indies (UWI) is due to mark a significant milestone with their inaugural International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference and Entrepreneurship Exhibition (IUSLCEE) scheduled to be held September 23–25, 2026, at The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica.
Organised by the Office of the Board for Undergraduate Studies, the hybrid event will bring together undergraduate students from the Caribbean, Latin America, the United States, Canada and Europe through in-person and virtual participation. Due to be held under the theme “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s World, Towards 2050: Imagining Roles, Rights, Responsibilities and Relationships,” the Conference conference aims to promote student leadership, global citizenship and innovation by creating opportunities for undergraduates to present academic research, showcase entrepreneurial ventures and engage with industry leaders, mentors and fellow students.
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Undergraduate Studies and Conference Chairman, Professor Canute Thompson, highlighted that “Opportunities for undergraduates to share academic insights and ventures are often limited to the classroom. This conference changes that, centring student voice and building bridges to graduate studies, industry, and community.”
The three-day event will thus feature student-led presentations, entrepreneurship exhibitions, mentorship sessions and panel discussions designed to connect academia with industry and community development. Beyond showcasing student work, the conference is expected to create pathways for collaboration and career development by connecting emerging scholars and entrepreneurs with potential mentors and industry partners.
Students are invited to participate as presenters, attendees or volunteers, with submissions currently open for scholarly papers and entrepreneurship exhibition proposals. Applicants are required to submit an abstract of up to 300 words outlining their research topic, objectives, methodology, key findings or proposed venture.
The deadline for submissions is September 3, 2026.
Through IUSLCEE, The UWI is seeking to position undergraduate students not only as learners but as contributors to regional development, innovation and leadership. The conference registration process is currently open, with organisers encouraging students to take advantage of the opportunity to share their ideas and contribute to conversations about the Caribbean’s future toward 2050.