Biography

Scott and Kathleen Cummings are employed with the International College of the Cayman Islands. Scott Cummings is the Dean of Instruction, the chief academic officer of the institution. Kathleen Cummings is the Director of Special Projects. They have been with ICCI since 2007.

Article Title

The Benefits of Gender Disparity in West Indies Institutions

Abstract

While the issue of gender disparity in Caribbean institutions has been extensively researched and discussed over the last two decades, the literature to date has tended to approach the issue from the perspective that the disparity is an issue in need of resolution. Research into enrolment figures at the International College of the Cayman Islands, the University College of the Cayman Islands, and the three main campuses of the University of the West Indies (Mona, Cave Hill and St. Augustine) shows a consistently lower percentage of males enrolled in tertiary education than females. This disparity is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Much of the existing literature has analyzed this issue from the perspective of the impact on the male population of the Caribbean. However, the issue of whether the disparity is beneficial from an academic and administrative perspective has not been adequately discussed. This paper will explore the present trends in enrolment by gender and, contrary to the conventional wisdom, will question whether having a higher percentage of female students in West Indies institutions creates a better college experience for all students enrolled. Specifically, analysis is addressed to the question of whether this disparity is in fact beneficial to the learning environment from both an academic and administrative perspective for all students because of the better learning environment, less discipline issues, and stronger overall academic achievement that such a population creates.