Med students set to boost economy, says minister

International medical schools here are poised to become a major economic driver, with each student expected to spend up to $3 000 monthly on living expenses, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education Sandra Husbands revealed on Monday.

Speaking at a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding with the Accreditation Commission of Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), Husbands outlined how the education sector could strengthen its position as an economic powerhouse for Barbados.

She said: “If each student, because of their living expenses – rent, food, transport, recreation, and their basic supplies – even if they are spending close to $2 000 or $3 000 a month to be able to provide [for themselves], you can see that if you have a couple thousand students here that there will be significant foreign exchange being earned by medical education. Education can strengthen its presence as an economic sector for Barbados, and not just development.”

The ceremony at the Ministry of Education’s auditorium in the Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, marked the second MOU with ACCM aimed at enhancing accreditation processes for medical students on the island.

Most of the more than seven international medical universities currently operating in Barbados can accommodate between 200 and 300 students, with Ross University capable of hosting significantly more. Many institutions are currently operating at half capacity following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but are now planning aggressive marketing campaigns to boost enrolment.

“Many of them would have established themselves just before COVID in 2019, and COVID would have slowed some of them down in terms of them building their student bodies,” Husbands explained. “We have been spending time visiting those colleges, and what they have been saying is that they are all preparing now to increase their marketing, to be able to increase their student body size.”

The partnership with ACCM is expected to enhance medical accreditation standards, potentially attracting more international students from regions including Africa, North America, India, and Latin America.

Husbands said most of the international medical universities here are accredited or have almost completed their accreditation process.

She said the partnership with ACCM aims to improve the best practices for medical accreditation for students, adding that more accreditation will lead to more international students coming from Africa and other jurisdictions.

“This partnership will allow us to share best practices, resources and expertise, ensuring that our accreditation processes are rigorous and relevant,” Husbands said. “In fostering this collaboration we aim to create an environment that promotes educational excellence, professional development, and a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.”

The minister added: “We must be able to bring to our shores and invest domestically in educational institutions that can meet global standards that allow students from any part of the world to be able to come and qualify in whatever field of study that will make them acceptable in their own markets. This is exactly what we have done with medical education. We want to be able to attract students from Africa, to be able to attract students from North America, from India, and Latin America.” (SB)