Executive Director of the Barbados Accreditation Council, Valda Alleyne, presenting the Barbados Vocational Training Board’s Director of Training, Henderson Thompson, with the certificate of registration today while BVTB  members of staff look on. (C.Pitt/BGIS)

The Barbados Vocational Training Board (BVTB) has been awarded registration status as an educational provider by the Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC).

This disclosure has come from BVTB’s Director of Training, Henderson Thompson, who said the organisation was registered on December 1, 2017, for one year.

He said: “We consider the achievement of registration to be a major event in the institution’s history. It signifies that the BVTB is a quality TVET institution, and it is tangible evidence that we are achieving our mission to provide globally-recognised vocational training that empowers graduates to perform competently in the marketplace.”

Mr. Thompson explained that receiving the registration grade signals that an educational provider has met the minimum standards established by the BAC to deliver post-secondary or tertiary education and training in Barbados, and provides a general overview of the operations and educational offerings of the provider.

He added that the BVTB, which is a government-funded technical vocational education and training (TVET) post-secondary institution, was therefore required to register.

He pointed out that becoming a registered educational provider had many benefits.   He listed them as including validation of the BVTB’s education and training programmes; access to educational finance from funding agencies; enhanced stakeholder confidence and trust; and eligibility for application for accreditation.

Giving the background to the registration, Mr. Thompson said the BVTB established a 20-member Steering Committee, whose responsibilities included supporting, guiding and organising the registration process.  Mr. Thompson served as Chair, while the deputy was Assistant Director of Training – Operations, Jennifer Michael.  Testing and Measurement Officer, Andrew Weekes, functioned as Registration Coordinator.

The Steering Committee comprised representatives from the Board of Management, governance/administration, students/trainees, student services, learning and information resources, maintenance, and finance and marketing.

According to him, the BVTB submitted its Application for Registration of Training Providers and supporting documentation in December 2016. The supporting documentation included a Self-Evaluation Report and the Steering Committee crafted the self-evaluation process around the 11 general registration criteria.

They were: Governance and Mission; Admission Policies; Educational Programmes; Staffing and Professional Development; Student Assessment; Student Support Services; Physical Plant and Equipment; Learning and Information Services; Laboratory Facilities; Finances; and Institutional Plan.

Mr. Thompson pointed out that a three-member international team of educational experts conducted a site visit in September 2017, to determine whether the BAC’s general registration criteria were met.

He disclosed that the team determined that the BVTB met the criteria, and commended the organisation for its supportive governance arrangements; cohesive and technically competent senior management team; and clear commitment from demonstrators to their students/trainees, and to the institution.

sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb

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