Deputy Principal Training Officer, Training Administration Division, Fay-Marie Browne showing Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Darcy Boyce and Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, Sonja Welch, some of the items on display for the TAD’s 50th anniversary showcase while Principal Training Officer, Esworth Reid, looks on. (J.Bishop/GP)
Public officers doing courses through the Training Administration Division (TAD) will soon be able to have them accredited.
This was disclosed yesterday by Deputy Principal Training Officer of the TAD, Fay-Marie Browne, during the launch of the institution’s Chapter 50: Entering the E-Environment, featuring a new-look website, a virtual classroom and a mobile application, at the Hilton Barbados Resort.
“Our courses will soon be accredited and linked to the National Qualifications Framework, so that public officers, successfully completing our courses, will be able to obtain either a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) or a Caribbean Vocation Qualification (CVQ),” she explained.
As a result, she said, the development of a Quality Assurance framework was already in progress, allowing the TAD the opportunity to review its internal processes and pay greater attention to developing and maintaining quality standards in all aspects of its functions.
Meanwhile, she noted that the TAD took the decision to incorporate internet-based technologies to enhance its training function and widen its reach. This, she said, was done through the launch of its website, virtual classroom and mobile application.
“The website will allow members of the public service to view, access services and to conduct business with the Division,” Ms. Browne explained, adding that the site would also be able to facilitate the application process for subscription to training courses, study and training leave.
The launch also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Higher Development Education Unit of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Training Administration Division. (J.Bishop/GP)
The Deputy Principal Training Officer noted that the TAD had also partnered with the Higher Education Development Unit of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, to use the TRIDENT learning platform to host the Division’s online learning courses through a virtual classroom.
And, it is expected that by June 2017 persons will be able to subscribe for a number of management and leadership courses being offered in collaboration with universities abroad and online institutions. “We ask you to take the challenge, sign-up for a course and tell us your successes and challenges…,” Ms. Browne urged.
She added that the mobile application was designed to allow public officers to access the Division’s training products being offered locally and overseas, and address the frustration being faced by some of not being able to find or access courses.