Graduate studies in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the Caribbean - Whose responsibility?

Abstract

The landscape of tertiary level education in the Caribbean has changed significantly during the last decade as a result of the recognition by governments that in order to survive in this ever-changing technological global market, the education system must adjust to facilitate growth and development and strive to satisfy the needs of the economy. The inception of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) has challenged the education system to deliver quality personnel to marshal what may now be viewed as non-traditional, high-demand professional education and training. Each Caribbean nation, and indeed CARICOM, must move swiftly to provide an empirical basis on which to develop benchmarks and standards for this emerging economy. During the last three decades, we have witnessed the emergence and maturity of quality assurance agencies in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) internationally. The benefits derived from such agencies are astounding in terms of establishing and maintaining standards. During the last decade, Jamaica established its TVET quality assurance agency, the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET), and has utilized Industry Lead Groups to formulate a significant bank of standards, which are now employed by the various sectors. Establishment of a solid postgraduate programme will provide researchers, and hence valuable information and data to refine and continue development of standards, which will in the long term assist policy makers. This paper will outline the response of The University of the West Indies (UWI) in its attempts to provide leadership in the delivery of graduate programmes in TVET for the Caribbean