BAC endorses National Transformation Initiative

The Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC) has formally endorsed the National Transformation Initiative (NTI), signalling a shift towards recognising non-traditional education and workforce development programmes.

The partnership, formalised through a memorandum of understanding, comes as the BAC prepares for a major restructuring to adapt to global changes in education and skills recognition.

But the council has, however, made clear that this endorsement does not equate to accreditation.

The agreement, signed at BAC’s Phoenix Centre headquarters on George Street on Thursday, acknowledges NTI’s role in lifelong learning and upskilling Barbadians.

Addressing the distinction during the signing ceremony, BAC executive director Lisa Gale stressed that while NTI plays a key role in national development, it does not function as a traditional educational institution and therefore does not meet the requirements for accreditation.

“This is really an endorsement and an acknowledgement … a saying, ‘We partner with you, we see what you’re doing, we like what you’re doing, and we appreciate what you’re doing,” she said.

“It does not signal recognition in the normal forms. It does not signal accreditation. It signals endorsement.”

Accreditation requires formal admission policies, governance systems, and structured teaching and learning processes, elements that do not apply to NTI which, she noted, was an initiative, not an institution.

The signing comes as BAC prepares to transition into the Barbados Accreditation and Qualification Authority (BAQA), following a Cabinet decision in October 2024 to restructure the council’s role.

This transition will see the creation of the Barbados Qualifications and Credit Framework and the National Qualifications Register, broadening BAC’s mandate beyond traditional academic and vocational programmes to include skills-based learning and prior learning recognition.

“We recognise that there is an ongoing organisational shift globally as it relates to the standards we follow,” Gale said, pointing to international bodies such as the UK National Information Centre (UK ENIC), which assesses a wide range of qualifications beyond traditional degrees.

“This is why this MOU with NTI makes sense, as it positions us strategically for the next phase of our existence.”

Even some BAC team members have already completed NTI training courses, she noted.

The BAC executive further noted a need to recognise the growing demand for short, stackable, skills-based courses.

“Therefore, we as BAC have to see ourselves as looking to see where they’re going and seeing whether or not we can look at some policies that we can embrace … that type of learning,” she said.

In her address, NTI director Dr Allyson Leacock called the agreement a defining moment for education in Barbados.

“The world is evolving at a frenetic pace, and so must education. No longer is it just about degrees… it’s about skills, adaptability, and lifelong learning,” she said.

Leacock cited World Economic Forum data indicating that by 2027, half of all global workers will need reskilling to keep pace with technological advancements.

She stressed that e-learning provides the speed and scale necessary to meet this demand.

She also spoke on NTI’s partnership with Coursera, which offers free access to more than 12 500 courses from globally recognised organisations such as Yale, Stanford, Google, and IBM.

“This is what democratising education looks like,” Leacock said, revealing that NTI has already seen over 100 000 enrolments.

She further noted the growing importance of AI-powered learning and micro-credentials, which are increasingly valued by employers over traditional degrees.

“Employers now value skills over degrees, and workers need flexible, stackable certifications,” she said, noting that the initiative is leveraging Coursera’s AI Course Builder to develop courses tailored to Barbados, ensuring that global standards are met while incorporating local content.

Leacock commended BAC for expanding its approach beyond traditional accreditation, acknowledging the broader role of training initiatives like NTI.

“The accreditation council is embracing education across the board and access to everyone for skilling. NTI has the platform that enables that,” she said.

She pointed out that NTI does more than online courses, offering training through various formats, including orientation programmes for workforce initiatives.