Bridging the Gap between Policy and Implementation: Moving from Single to Dual Mode at the University of the West Indies

In 1992, the University of the West Indies (UWI) took a decision to become a dual mode institution by restructuring its operations to provide both face-to-face and distance education. This policy decision was taken to resolve some of the problems associated with earlier efforts to broaden access to tertiary education throughout the countries in the Caribbean region without a UWI campus. This paper is a descriptive one, which will trace the developments that led to the policy decision to become a dual mode institution and the underlying theories or perspectives on policy in education proposed by Stephen Ball, that guided the decision. I will also examine the challenges faced in implementation and the UWIs response to these challenges. I will argue that bridging the gap between policy and implementation should not be seen as unrealistic but that organisations need to be able to recognise the driving forces behind policy decisions and respond and adapt to our current, dynamic environment.