In a move poised to reshape education and training in the Caribbean, Sandals Corporate University and the University of the West Indies Global Campus solidified a groundbreaking partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Sandals Barbados on Wednesday.
The MOU will create a framework for coordinating digital and technology-related projects and initiatives across the UWI Global Campus and the Sandals Group as part of the latter’s digital revolution and transformational strategy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Senior Corporate Director at Sandals Corporate University, Dr Luz Longsworth said: “This is a marriage of two organisations that I personally have a lot of respect and love for. Both organisations focus on the development and education of our people and the countries of this beautiful Caribbean.”
She outlined the key areas of collaboration outlined in the MOU, emphasising the integration of digital technologies such as extended reality (XR), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) into educational initiatives.
One of the main areas of collaboration highlighted by Dr Longsworth was the development of immersive experiences using extended reality technologies.
“The UWI Global Campus will provide technical input and subject matter expertise to assist with the design, development, and implementation of extended reality projects, including hospitality training content,” she explained.
Dr Francis Severin, Principal of UWI Global Campus, echoed Dr Longsworth’s enthusiasm for the partnership and emphasised its significance in advancing the digital economy in the region.
He said: “This collaboration marks a significant step forward in our efforts to support independent creators and the growing digital economy in the Caribbean.”
Highlighting the importance of inclusive education, Dr Severin emphasised the role of emerging technologies in breaking down traditional barriers to participation.
According to him, “the digital creator economy presents an opportunity to eliminate traditional barriers to productive participation, such as location, gender, and disabilities.”
Dr Severin also underscored the transformative potential of immersive learning experiences facilitated by technologies like AR, VR, and AI.
“Our intention is to establish an immersive learning centre that supports staff, students, and stakeholders to learn, train, and perform as efficiently and effectively as possible in the knowledge metaverse,” he explained.
The partnership between Sandal Corporate University and UWI Global Campus represents a bold step towards leveraging technology to enhance education, training, and workforce development in the Caribbean. With a shared commitment to innovation and sustainability, the collaboration is poised to create new opportunities for learners and organisations alike in the digital age.
So far, the partnership has already begun working on its first of many projects to come – the Digital Immersive Virtual Enhancement (DIVE) Project for undersea heritage which is to provide participants with a virtual diving experience of the Caribbean Sea.
(SM)
