Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy (FP)
“An indigenous MBA experience adds value to the Caribbean”. This is the view of Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy as he addressed a recent Dinner, held in honour of the 17th cohort of the Executive Masters in Business Administration (general Management group) of the Cave Hill School of Business (CHSB), at the Mount Restaurant of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
The Minister noted that since its inception in 1991, the CHSB [then the Centre for Management Development (CMD)] had “grown remarkably” from the point where internet assisted in research to a level where “the format is not even face-to-face but is now an online distance-learning-based methodology that provides the networking facility…”
He explained that it was important for students to look at the value of the programme not only in terms of learning in the classroom but with respect to the contacts “you are going to make and what business value they will create for you down the road.” This, he said was a principle instilled in him, while in the 2nd cohort of the CMD, from the late Professor Stan Reid, who had fought “to ensure that the concept of management development would be firmly institutionalised into our academic arrangements at the CMD”.
“So when you reflect on what this programme has done for you I think you have to look at it in that holistic way as well. The Institute of Business has wonderful values inherent in its corporate philosophy and these serve as useful guidelines as you acknowledge the enhanced role it would play in your professional development, whether you are remaining in an existing profession or looking to go into a new area.
“So those values of integrity, respect, and dignity, commitment to excellence, productivity and of course institutional and personal responsibility are all very much applicable in that circumstance… these principles, along with the fellowships and contacts, help to add value to the whole experience…”
The students, who come from Barbados and the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States, were also told that since it (CHSB) was an indigenous experience it afforded them “an opportunity to feed off of relevant cases, examples and experiences that can only serve to make us better MBA graduates”.
And, they were told that part of their responsibility to the broader Caribbean was “to be as public-spirited as possible, through selfless efforts” whether they were in the public or private sectors.
Alluding to the vicissitudes of the tourism sector, Minister Sealy said it was important to prepare, “a whole cadre of managers and persons who could take control of all levers in the society, both in the public and private sector that make ourselves attractive as a region for this very critical sector.”
The Minister of Tourism further advised persons not directly working in the industry that It “takes many other things to make a destination other than a hotel, a restaurant, an attraction or an amenity, so whether you are a banker, public sector/private sector, a doctor, physician specialist or lawyer … of that as well, adds to the very special area that we call the Caribbean that seems to have so much appeal all around the world…”
The CHSB is an executive education organisation that is committed to developing the human capacity of the region through its academic programme, executive development programme, consultancies and research. It can be reached at chsb@uwichill.edu.bb or as an alternative persons can visit their website www.uwichsb.org.