TVET chairman wants more people to buy into lifelong learning

With the Barbados Annual Construction and Design Conference (BACDC) set to kick off on Tuesday, chairman of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, Dr Albert Best is appealing to persons in that line of work to see lifelong learning as a must.

Speaking on Monday ahead of the conference, he told media representatives that training “shouldn’t stop at tertiary” education.

“ . . . . Beyond the classroom and beyond an internship that might be provided by the skills training programmes and stuff that we have through the broader Ministry [of Education Technological and Vocational Training], we still need that continuing professional development to keep our workforce sharp and tapped into current trends and international standards,” Best said.

“And that has been the initiative of the TVET Council with the advent of the Lifelong Learning Unit, and this conference is only part of our broader intentions.”

Best, who is an architect, planner and construction manager, said he had identified the need for and pushed the lifelong learning initiative while at the helm of the Council.

“I had to bring the sensitivity that TVET doesn’t stop at the blue collar. It’s not the plumbers, it’s not the electricians, but it is also the architects, the engineers, the doctors, because anything that is based on vocation – hands-on or application – is TVET and people have to understand that.

“I guess with the education reform, you will see a happy merger of the academia and what we call TVET. So that is being redefined, as we speak, and you will see more and more from the Lifelong Learning Unit as we roll out our programmes,” he declared.

Meanwhile, Lead Officer for TVET’s Lifelong Learning Programme, Kimisha King, acknowledging that the Council was “walking in line with the policy of the Education Ministry”, stated that it was imperative to have the Ministry’s support, not only with respect to the conference but for the Council’s lifelong learning initiative.

“You are hearing now a lot, as we’re hearing in the news, where the Government of Barbados is really pushing that technical training because that’s important. You see it happening throughout the schools. We are seeing the NVQs [National Vocational Qualifications] and the CVQs [Caribbean Vocational Qualification] happening in the schools,” she said.

“We are not waiting until they get to tertiary level or when they get where they’re able to do that advanced training. We are starting it from as young as possible, so that when they get there it is a part of what they do.”

Adding that the Lifelong Learning Unit provided for advanced training, King added: “We are looking at those persons who are in the field already, who are already practising, who are doing those things already and helping to advance those levels of training. So that we are always sticking to our vision, which is becoming the premier catalyst to ensure that development is always happening, because there is always something to learn, there is always something for you to be able to get better at.”

The virtual BACDC, which will run until Thursday, aims to provide continuing professional development training to over 100 professionals in the design and construction industry, across participating associations. The conference will form a global/regional forum for researchers, educators, academics, and engineers to present and discuss recent innovations and new techniques in engineering technology, architecture, and design.

“There is no secret that construction is important to us. Architecture is a thriving but competitive business and climate can be difficult, even in the best economy. Therefore, by grouping all aspects of construction and design in this conference, participants will learn how to modify their design values to re-evaluate their market position and proactively secure work while enhancing and boosting their brand,” King explained.

The event is being held in collaboration with the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers, Barbados Contractors and Artisans Cooperative Society Limited, Barbados Institute of Architects, Barbados Town Planning Society, Berger Paints Barbados Limited, British High Commission and the High Commission of Canada. (BT/BGIS)