From left: Sharlene Anderson, Neeka Ann Anderson, Latoya Allen and Kimberli Allen were among other graduates of the Faculty of Humanity and Education graduating class of 2008 at the UWI presentation of graduates ceremony at the Mona campus on Friday. - photos by Peta-Gaye Clachar/ Staff Photographer

CLOSE TO 2,000 students from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, have been released into the job market after completing their course of studies at the institution, which is celebrating its 60th year of existence.

The students were presented with their certificates in three ceremonies. The first was held on Friday and the other two yesterday morning and afternoon.

At the ceremony on Friday, Ambassador Havelock Brewster received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD), while at yesterday morning's ceremony Dame Karlene C. Davis and Douglas Orane were conferred with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) and the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, (LLD), respectively.

Jamaican/Canadian entrepreneur, Michael Lee Chin and Roderick Rainford, Jamaican consultant and civil servant, were conferred with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) at the session held yesterday evening,

Ambassador Brewster, who addressed the graduates Friday night, charged them to remain focus.

"Beware as you steer ahead. keep your eyes fixed on the rear-view mirror," he told the students who graduated from the Faulty of Humanities and Education.

In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor Nigel Harris said the graduates were going into the work world at a time when the world was facing a financial crisis.

Promise and possibilities

However, he told them that there were promise and possibilities that did not exist when he graduated from university some 40 years ago.

According to information on the UWI's website posted in August, 1,676 satisfied the requirements for the award of bachelor's degrees. Of this total, 390 are men and 1,286 women. Of the 154 candidates who have been awarded the degree with first class honours, 28 are males and 126 are females.

Fifty-six candidates have satisfied the requirements for the award of certificates and diplomas: 10 males and 46 females.

Sir George Alleyne (left), chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), takes a bow after presenting Ambassador Havelock Brewster with a citation at the UWI presentation of graduates ceremony on the Mona campus yesterday.