• The project will increase access to higher education by expanding opportunities to global learning and a culturally diverse educational environment. 

• Students from Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, among other countries will be able to earn online degrees in sustainability and social justice.

   

IDB Invest provided US$11 million in long-term financing to the International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), part of The University of the West Indies, supporting Caribbean students’ access to higher education. This includes a US$5 million loan from IDB Invest and US$6 million mobilized from Blue Like an Orange Sustainable Capital Fund.

The ISDJ is the world's first global business school exclusively dedicated to online graduate programs focused on leadership of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university will offer a variety of tiered online graduate programs, ranging from one-year Master's degrees to shorter micro-credential programs at the Certificate and Diploma levels.

The ISDJ will increase access to higher education by expanding its Global Campus which carries out the current online undergraduate programs, allowing students access to a global education and a culturally diverse educational environment. 

ISDJ will provide education to a larger audience by removing geographic barriers. Students from Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, among other countries, will be able to earn degrees on sustainability and social justice from anywhere in the world through an online platform. This will also support students interested in the proposed suite of programs related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which is currently not available in the market. 

Additionally, IDB Invest provided advisory services to assess the financial structure and bankability prior to the financing. This included resources to develop a market study and a robust corporate governance plan.

IDB Invest is committed to promoting educational and social progress in the region, particularly in the Caribbean, and catalyzing innovation and economic growth in the private sector.

The project is expected to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; and SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals.

About IDB Invest

IDB Invest is a multilateral development bank committed to promoting the economic development of its member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through the private sector. IDB Invest finances sustainable companies and projects to achieve financial results and maximize economic, social, and environmental development in the region. With a portfolio of US$21 billion in assets under management and over 394 clients in 25 countries, IDB Invest provides innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the needs of its clients in a variety of industries. Visit our website idbinvest.org/en.

About The University of the West Indies (The UWI)

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier, higher education institution. One of only two regional universities in the world, it comprises five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. In 2024, The UWI launched its newest product, the International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), the world’s first-ever global business school dedicated solely to online graduate programmes that focus on leadership of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2018, The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Learn more at uwi.edu