Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Kay McConney, has underscored the importance of meaningful collaboration in education, saying such partnerships must continue to evolve.
Ms. McConney expressed this view today as she addressed the opening of the United States Embassy’s two-day Learning from Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Attracting US Scholars and Students of the Eastern Caribbean and Establishing University Partnerships, at Hilton Barbados Resort.
Those participating in the forum included officials from The University of the West Indies, Barbados Community College, Caribbean Examinations Council, Dominica State College, and The UWI Five Islands Campus.
Stating that some of the major challenges being faced were global, the Minister noted that even the issues that had local origin could evolve to become global in reach and impact. She highlighted the recent COVID-19 pandemic as such an example, as she asked how will the climate crisis be tackled and remedies found for illnesses that predominantly impact people of African heritage in the diaspora.
“To address and conquer these challenges, what it will take is us working together across borders, working with a spirit of partnership that can strengthen not only our alliances through international collaborative research but can also enhance transparency, to engender trust.
“How best we will face the future together must be at the heart of forward thinking collaborations of colleges and universities – their collaborations with each other, as well as their collaborations with governments and industry around the world. The innovative solutions that we co-create through international research collaborations must not only be cited as academic wins for the profile of the researchers, but they must have applied value, so that they also transform the lives of people,” Ms. McConney stressed.
In highlighting some of the Caribbean’s educational institutions, she pointed out that The University of the West Indies ranks among the top in the world. She added that community colleges around the region were developing programmes that “are ripe for joint programming” and other types of collaboration, and proffered the view that the opportunity for successful engagement was very real.
Minister McConney told her audience that a review of the students who accessed Barbados’ scholarships and exhibitions, sponsored by the Government of Barbados, revealed that the majority chose to attend Canadian and UK universities, rather than US universities and colleges.
She continued: “We are all aware that US institutions offer great flexibility in course selection, a large market of opportunities for practical experience in jobs, and a tremendous scope for networking and career advancement.”
Therefore, she stated, there were some questions which she hoped would be answered during the forum, including “is the cost of education more affordable in other countries? Is the Student Visa process simpler?”
US Ambassador to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS, Linda Taglialatela, said over 350,000 US students studied overseas in all corners of the world last year, and that number was expected to grow.
“When young Americans study abroad, they gain important skills and develop personal networks that enhance their prospects in the world’s marketplace and their potential as global problem-solvers,” Ms. Taglialatela stated.
Through these workshops, she explained, the aim is to see more American students immerse themselves in the culture, traditions, and education systems in this region, as well as provide the institutions with the knowledge and insight on building the capacity needed to host them.