“The Reality of Artificial Intelligence in the Caribbean” explores the transformative potential of AI within the unique socio-economic and cultural context of the region. It examines how AI can drive innovation and economic growth in key sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and financial services, while also addressing pressing social challenges like healthcare access, educational equity, and disaster resilience. This theme delves into the ethical dimensions of AI adoption, highlighting concerns around data privacy, bias, and regulation.
Additionally, it considers the role of AI in reshaping higher education to prepare a workforce equipped with future-ready skills, as well as the region’s readiness in terms of digital infrastructure, policy frameworks, and capacity building. By addressing these critical areas, this sub-theme seeks to chart a path for the sustainable and inclusive integration of AI into Caribbean societies.

During a period of fiscal constraints, escalating competition, and ever-changing student expectations, operational optimization has become of paramount importance for higher education institutions. This sub-theme invites participants to explore principles and practices that can assist tertiary educational
institutions to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery while maintaining academic quality. The various sessions will focus on resource mobilization for institutional sustainability, ethics and integrity in higher education, data-driven decision-making for enhancing excellence in higher education, building partnerships and collaboration for high impact, and strategic enrollment management. This sub-theme aims to create a more agile, responsive and student-centered environment through the lens of operational optimization.

Inclusivity, Diversity, Innovation and Equity in the delivery of Higher Education in the Caribbean must assume a significant and enhanced role given the skill-gaps facing most countries in our Region. Given the mandate of tertiary institutions across the Caribbean to rapidly address the skill-gaps, ACTI is intentionally seeking – through the 2025 Conference – to have participants explore and exchange experiences that would embrace inclusivity, innovation and equity in the delivery of higher education aimed at serving the needs of our respective countries, while ensuring that focus is given to our sustainable development. Indeed, the vision for greater inclusivity in higher education across the region must intentionally acknowledge the compelling need for diversity of both students and staff across our tertiary education institutions, while placing emphasis on best practices that would enhance, inter alia, socialization and effective participation of our students within the higher education space in the Caribbean.
It is the expectation that the 2025 ACTI Conference will generate ideas surrounding awareness, training, responsibilities of critical stakeholders along with companion rights and responsibilities which can be explored; ultimately leading to sustainable development of the Caribbean Region.

The Caribbean region faces unique challenges in ensuring food and nutrition security due to its limited agricultural infrastructure, susceptibility to climate change, and reliance on imported food. This sub-theme emphasizes integrated approaches to food security, which include climate-smart solutions, crop diversification, community empowerment through community-led initiatives, and the promotion of healthy dietary practices. These strategies aim to build resilience and foster economic as well as sustainable development. The sub-theme also encompasses regional collaboration, supported by relevant policies
and investments in research and technology, which are essential for developing innovative solutions that enhance productivity while minimizing environmental impact.