The inaugural visit to Barbados by Fort Valley State University (FVSU) to forge linkages with educational institutions and students has been welcomed by Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Maxine McClean.
???I believe this is the start of an important initiative or set of initiatives. I understand the commitment to forge those ties and I believe that we will do some very good work which would be mutually beneficial to both your university and Barbados and the region ultimately,??? Senator McClean stated.
The Minister, who is also responsible for Foreign Trade, told the delegation there was a mix of opportunities to be gained through partnering with institutions like the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados Community College and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic.
She said: ???There is the entrepreneurial component of FVSU??? This offers for us, Barbados and the region, an opportunity to see Barbadian and Caribbean people collaborating in a wide cross-section of areas, to not only receive an undergraduate or post graduate qualification, but to explore opportunities in entrepreneurship and innovation.???
Senator McClean also urged Barbadians to pursue the 100-Thousand Strong in the Americas Initiative, noting that it was one in which President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, saw a bi-directional movement of students in the Americas into the United States.
Pointing out that they could be about 40,000 American students studying in the Caribbean and about 65,000 Caribbean students in the US, the Foreign Affairs Minister said this could be very much part of that initiative.
joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb