Denise Amyot, President and CEO of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) is pleased to accept the invitation of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation to join the launch of Barbados’ new “Skills for the Future” initiative.

“ACCC‘s education for employment (EFE) programs promote sustainable economic growth and job creation to reduce poverty and help communities thrive through effective links with industry and community members,” said Amyot. “Colleges and institutes in Canada are experts in business partnerships and can contribute to Barbados’ economic growth and the employment opportunities of its students.”

A priority for ACCC, the CARICOM Education for Employment Program (C-EFE) is a seven-year program designed to support the economic development of the Caribbean region by strengthening its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. This is done in partnership with the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA). It supports education and training institutions and National Training Agencies (NTAs) in the region to move from a traditional, academic, supply-driven training system to a more responsive, applied, demand-driven one that meets the needs of learners and the labour market.

C-EFE is undertaken with a $20M financial support of the Government of Canada and is implemented by ACCC. The C-EFE is working with the TVET Council Barbados and Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) to strengthen the delivery of skills development programs in Barbados. SJPP is working with Canadian college partner, Sault College of Applied Arts and technology, to develop a program in renewable energy.

The Association welcomes the opportunity to engage with industry and educational stakeholders in Barbados in identifying how to ensure that students have the skills required to meet the needs of employers in Barbados. ACCC and its members will continue to support this important work.

ACCC is the national and international voice of Canada’s publicly funded colleges and institutes, working with industry and social sectors to train 1.5 million learners of all ages and backgrounds at campuses serving over 3,000 urban, rural and remote communities from coast to coast to coast.