ACHIEVEMENTS: Ministry of Tertiary Education
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SOME OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS IN TERTIARY EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.
A Signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with The University of the West Indies (UWI), St.
Augustine to develop a Centre for Workforce Research
and Development (CWRD) to focus on tracking,
monitoring and forecasting labour market trends, skills
gaps and training needs.
Students can now transfer accumulated credits across
various educational institutions following the signing
of an MoU to adopt the “Guidelines for the Framing
of Articulation Agreements”.
MSTTE appointed a St. Augustine Education City
Committee to develop a University Town, which will
serve as an Integrated Centre for Academic Excellence.
Commencement of works on the MSTTE
Headquarters in Chaguanas.
The Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago
(ACTT) launched the first student caravan, which
visited secondary schools in rural communities across
the country to better offer career guidance services to
students and the wider public.
ACTT granted institutional accreditation to UWI, the
University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), College
of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad
and Tobago (COSTAATT) and the Arthur Lock Jack
Graduate School of Business.
147. ACTT opened its South Outreach Office in San
Fernando.
College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of
Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAAT) opened the nation’s
first school of journalism, the Ken Gordon School of
Journalism and Communication Studies.
A COSTAATT Campus was opened in Sangre Grande
to meet the needs of underserved populations with
an enrolment of 800 students- serving communities
in the Arima, Wallerfield, Valencia, Guaico, Cumuto,
Sangre Grande, Toco, Matelot, Manzanilla, Biche.
Proposed expansion of COSTAAT to Tunapuna,
Penal, Chaguanas and Princes Town.
New Nurses Training Academy located in El Dorado
using the former El Dorado Youth Camp.
Metal Industries Company Limited (MIC) established
three Workforce Assessment Centres in Macoya,
Pleasantville and Tobago; opened the O’Meara Hype
and Administration Facility and launched Solar
Energy/Photovoltaic Training.
The National Energy Skills Centre (NESC) launched an
apprenticeship programme to support auto mechanics
training and also commenced refurbishment of the
Debe Technology Centre.
National Institute of Higher Education, Research,
Science and Technology (NIHERST) staged Sci–
Teckno Fest, “Create, Innovate, Sustain”; 35,000
visitors participated – the largest to date.
NIHERST launched the “Caribbean Women in
Science and Their Careers” – the 5th publication in the
icons in science technology and innovation series and
also collaborated with training institutions to produce
a publication on Trinidad and Tobago Icons in STI
(Volume 2), featuring 29 outstanding local scientists,
engineers and innovators.
NIHERST launched the Caribbean Science and
Agriculture Film and Video Competition and
conducted a training workshop for sixty entrants with
support from key stakeholders inclusive of UWI and
the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company (TTFC).
NIHERST launched the Indian Travelling Science
Museum at the Divali Nagar compound.
The National Training Agency (NTA) managed the
implementation of Workforce Assessment Centres
that allows qualified, but uncertified, citizens to acquire
the relevant credentials; hosted a National Career Fair
for over 10,000 persons and launched the National
Labour Market Report, a joint initiative with CNMG,
for information on opportunities in the labour market.
NTA also opened eight new On-the-Job-Training suboffices
throughout the country.
UTT opened the Professional Education Unit and the
UTT Charlieville Campus in Chaguanas.
UTT launched the Biosciences, Agriculture
and Food Technology (BAFT) programme and
commissioned the New Animal Science building;
launched the Advanced Centre for Coastal and
Ocean Research and Development (ACCORD)
and the Student Social Responsibility Centre.
UTT signed an MoU with Caribbean Airlines and
National Helicopters Services Limited for the start of
Aircraft Maintenance Training.
UWI, St. Augustine began construction of its South
Campus at Penal /Debe, which will accommodate a
Faculty of Law, Campus Library, General Academic/
Administrative Building, Student Union Building and
Halls of Residence.
UWI also commenced construction of the Signal
Hill UWI Open Campus Site and will facilitate
the expansion of enrolment in the Open Campus
Programmes in Tobago.
Construction also began on The UWI Centre for
Research and Workforce Development.
The Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism
Institute (TTHTI) entered into an agreement with
the Australian Institute of Business to introduce
its first transnational programme – the Bachelor of
Business Administration in Hospitality and Tourism
Management. Youth Training and Employment
Partnership Programmes Limited (YTEPP) opened
the Bethel Empowerment Centre, Bethel Tobago to
provide opportunities for Skills Training and Worker
Certificates.
A Memorandum of Understanding signed between
YTEPP and USAID provides mobile computer bus
services to rural communities in Tobago.
YTEPP revised the age of entry to accept trainees
up to age 35. YTEPP also opened the new Point
Lisas Training Facility, the Waterloo Training Facility
and implemented three new Workforce Assessment
Centres (WAC) at Maloney Vocational Centre, Valencia
Training & Enterprise Academy and Chaguanas
Training & Enterprise Academy.
Cabinet approved the formation of the Fashion
Industry Development Committee (FIDC) to oversee
the development of a feasibility study and strategic
plan for the fashion industry.
The CEPEP Company Limited has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the College of
Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and
Tobago (COSTATT) for the purpose of designing and
implementing a training programme which will benefit
the workers of CEPEP contracting companies wishing
to continue/pursue studies at CXC levels.
Signed agreement to train Nigerian Energy Sector
workers.