The Caribbean and China create a new ‘silk road’ to knowledge

UWI China Institute of Information Technology(UWI-CIIT)

加勒比与中国新的知识丝路

Dr. Anthony O. Fisher

(Anthony.fisher@cavehill.uwi.edu)

Executive Director

临时执行董事

UWI China Institute of Information Technology (UWI-CIIT)

西印度大学中国信息工程学院

Office of the Vice Chancellor

副校长办公室

University of the West Indies, Barbados

西印度大学，巴巴多斯

The University of the West Indies(UWI), winner of two Nobel prizes and the number one university in CARICOM – the 15 nation community of independent English speaking nations in the Caribbean with which China has very close friendships - entered into a partnership with the Global Institute of Software Technology(GIST) from Suzhou to create The UWI – China Institute of Information Technology (UWICIIT) the first institution of its kind in the Americas.

西印度大学（简称UWI），曾获得两次诺贝尔奖，是加勒比共同体最好的大学。加勒比共同体是由17个独立的并且讲英语的国家构成，与中国有密切的联系。2016年2月20日，西印度大学与苏州高博软件技术职业学院（简称GIST）建立了合作伙伴关系，商榷共同建立西印度大学中国信息工程学院（简称UWICIIT），这是加勒比海地区第一所与中国合作建立的院校。

Most of the countries in CARICOM, with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago, which exports oil and gas, Jamaica bauxite, and Guyana gold and other precious metals, depend precariously on tourism and commodities as a major source of their income. World Bank and other studies have pointed to the acquisition of IT skills as one way for the CARICOM nations to diversify their income base to be able to export software, and create more sustainable economies.

在加勒比共同体中，特立尼达和多巴哥出口石油与天燃气，牙买加出口铝土矿，圭亚那出口金子与其它贵重金属，而旅游业则是其他国家的经济支柱。世界银行和其它研究所都建议加勒比共同体可以通过发展信息技术来促进本国经济多样化，实现经济的可持续发展。

Bridging the gap in skills to put in place the platform for the creation of a digital economy, is an opportunity for both China and the Caribbean to collaborate to mutual benefit. While many Chinese have seen the film ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ they know little about the culture of the region, nor of the strategic knowledge partnership opportunities in the English speaking Caribbean that could enhance China’s own development priorities. Contributing to PM LI Keqiang’s internet + project, is but one example where the CARICOM countries working with China could benefit each other both culturally and materially.

缩小信息技术方面的差距，发展电子经济，对中国与加勒比海来说，都具有广阔的前景。虽然很多中国人已经看过了加勒比海盗这部电影，但是他们对加勒比文化仍然知之甚少，也没有意识到加勒比共同体能够促进中国的发展。李克强总理提出了因特网+项目，加勒比共同体与中国的合作，能促进双方文化与经济的发展。

Hence the UWI-CIIT was created.

在这样的背景下，西印度大学中国信息工程学院应运而生。

The binational UWI-CIIT is designed to train students from both China and the Caribbean in software development, entrepreneurship, language and cultural skills. It is a 2+2 program which will give Caribbean students a grounding in Chinese culture and language, as well as provide English and knowledge of Caribbean culture for Chinese students.

这项跨国合作的西印度大学中国信息工程学院九月份正式开始，重点培训中国与加勒比海学生的软件开发，创业精神、语言与文化。这是一个2+2项目，不仅会教加勒比海学生中国语言与文化，还会教中国学生英语与加勒比海文化。

A paid 6 month internship arranged during their practically oriented 4th year through GIST, at Fortune 500 companies in the Suzhou Industrial Park is a highlight of the program. Graduates get both a UWI degree in software engineering and a GIST diploma. Caribbean students will be encouraged to start their own businesses or work in China’s software industry, before returning home. Chinese students who enroll will be fluent in English, become highly employable in China and more globally competitive.

毕业生毕业后会在苏州工业园区的世界500 强企业得到六个月带薪实习的机会。加勒比学生会在回国之前，自己先在中国创业或者在中国软件园区工作。通过该项目，中国学生会讲一口流利的英语，提升其在中国与全球的竞争力。

Dr. Wang Bin Tai, Executive Chairman of GIST, stated that he hopes the Institute will serve as a platform for exchange for students from both nations.

高博的执行董事王斌泰博士讲到，他希望西印度大学中国信息工程学院能够成为中巴学生沟通交流的平台。

The agreement to set up the UWICIIT is just the first pillar in what Sir Hilary Beckles, the Vice Chancellor of the UWI characterizes as, jointly creating ‘a bridge for an education silk road which links young people of China to the Caribbean and the Americas.

该协议计划建立西印度大学中国信息工程学院，这是西印度大学副校长希拉里·贝克斯爵士创建教育丝绸之路的第一步计划，旨在加强中国与加勒比海地区年轻人之间的沟通与交流。

More information about the program can be found at http://www.uwi.edu/softwareengineering/