Top Banner
13th ANNUAL CONFERENCE  Georgetown, Guyana October 4‐7, 2016 IN THIS ISSUE CANQATE Conference 2016 1 Message from the President 1 12th Annual CANQATE Conference 3 Introducing “Quality Higher EducaƟon in the Caribbean” 4 News and Happenings 5 About CANQATE 12 CANQATE CONFERENCE 2016 October 2016 O n October 9, 2015 I accepted the awesome responsibility to lead a regional associaƟon that has the tremendous responsibility of improving the quality of terƟary level educaƟon throughout the Caribbean by highlighƟng and enhancing the role and pracƟce of quality assurance. Since then, my life has become exponenƟally more meaningful and driven with purpose. This challenge has brought me into contact with a number of truly inspiring individuals who have been working in the background to build CANQATE into a truly dynamic and vibrant associaƟon with a clear mandate and vision. Over the past few months I have met and interacted more frequently than ever before with almost all levels of stakeholders that make up the terƟary sector in the regional and internaƟonally. ConƟnued on page 2 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Ronald Brunton, PhD T he 13th Annual Conference will take place in Guyana at the ultra‐ modern Arthur Chung ConvenƟon Centre, located at Liliendaal, adjacent to the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters. The Conference will be proudly hosted by the NaƟonal AccreditaƟon Council‐Guyana in collaboraƟon with the Ministry of EducaƟon, Guyana, from 4‐7, October 2016. The Conference coincides with Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence. This year’s theme, Sustaining a Culture of Quality Assurance in TerƟary EducaƟon for NaƟonal and Regional Development, will address delegates on the importance of quality assurance to the development of the Caribbean region. The three‐day interacƟve conference promises quality assurance professionals, educators, policy makers, representaƟves from regional and extra‐regional bodies, the opportunity to share experiences and discuss strategies to build the capacity of countries to develop a quality assurance culture in the Caribbean. On October 4, the preconference session will include a workshop facilitated by Dr L. Wilson, Alabama State University, USA and a seminar on the Caribbean’s HRD Strategy presented by Dr Eduardo Ali, CARICOM Secretariat. ConƟnued on page 2
12

Newsletter conference 2016 final draft

Jan 23, 2018

Download

Education

Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

13th ANNUAL CONFERENCE 

Georgetown, Guyana October 4‐7, 2016

IN THIS ISSUE

CANQATE Conference 2016 1

Message from the President 1

12th Annual CANQATE Conference 3

Introducing “Quality Higher

Educa on in the Caribbean” 4

News and Happenings 5

About CANQATE 12

CANQATE CONFERENCE 2016 

October 2016

O n October 9, 2015 I accepted the awesome responsibility to lead a

regional associa on that has the tremendous responsibility of improving the quality of ter ary level educa on throughout the Caribbean by highligh ng and enhancing the role and prac ce of quality assurance. Since then, my life has become exponen ally more meaningful and driven with purpose. This challenge has brought me into contact with a number of truly inspiring individuals who have been working in the background to build CANQATE into a truly dynamic and vibrant associa on with a clear mandate and vision. Over the past few months I have met and interacted more frequently than ever before with almost all levels of stakeholders that make up the ter ary sector in the regional and interna onally. Con nued on page 2

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Ronald Brunton, PhD

T he 13th Annual Conference will take place in Guyana at the ultra‐modern Arthur Chung Conven on Centre, located at Liliendaal, adjacent to the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters. The Conference will be proudly hosted by the Na onal Accredita on Council‐Guyana in collabora on with the Ministry of Educa on, Guyana, from 4‐7, October 2016. The Conference coincides with Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.

This year’s theme, Sustaining a Culture of Quality Assurance in Ter ary Educa on for Na onal and Regional Development, will address delegates on the importance of quality assurance to the development of the Caribbean region. The three‐day interac ve conference promises quality assurance professionals, educators, policy makers, representa ves from regional and extra‐regional bodies, the opportunity to share experiences and discuss strategies to build the capacity of countries to develop a quality assurance culture in the Caribbean.

On October 4, the preconference session will include a workshop facilitated by Dr L. Wilson, Alabama State University, USA and a seminar on the Caribbean’s HRD Strategy presented by Dr Eduardo Ali, CARICOM Secretariat. Con nued on page 2

Page 2: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Con nued from page 1

Each has dis nct challenges, circumstances, and perspec ves on ter ary educa on and quality assurance.

To iden fy a few, I have been working with professionals at budding quality assurance agencies, strapped for cash and dependent on poli cal will in their jurisdic on to move things along. I have also been interac ng with professionals at more established external quality assurance agencies (EQAAs) in the region, trying to keep up with developments in their jurisdic on as they too struggle with limited resources and the desire to remain autonomous, relevant and at the forefront in a changing sector. I have also had the pleasure of collabora ng with quality assurance professionals at ter ary level ins tu ons, as they strive to maintain quality in the face of growing compe on, dwindling resources, growing student demands and moun ng requirements to document their work for upcoming quality assurance reviews.

These issues facing our stakeholders are indeed varied, complex and interconnected. Solu ons require careful considera on, objec ve analysis and sustained research. It is important to recognise that the Caribbean is not isolated from developments outside the region and we all need to be alert to developments in quality assurance globally. Of par cular relevance are recent developments in the United States where the very no on of quality and the role of accredi ng agencies is being challenged by the Federal Government. The recent ruling of the Na onal Advisory Commi ee on Ins tu onal Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) on June 23, 2016 to effec vely shut down the Accredi ng Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) should be of great concern to all accredi ng bodies. The decision of NACIQI, an advisory commi ee of the U.S. Department of Educa on (USDE), to remove recogni on of ACISC, was based on the accredi ng agency’s failure to comply with federal regula ons, its inadequate quality assurance prac ces and the likelihood that it would not be able to make necessary changes within a suitable meframe. The fallout from this decision will mean that some eight hundred US campuses will now have to scramble to seek accredita on from another accredi ng agency or lose access to federal student‐aid dollars.

This should be a wakeup call for the Caribbean, a warning to quality assurance professionals, ter ary educa on ins tu ons and especially EQAAs in the Caribbean. Indeed, EQAAs around the world are under greater scru ny than ever before and are being asked (even demanded) to review themselves against established standards. As quality assurance professionals we need to understand that while such ac ons may ini ally appear

to threaten the very founda on of quality assurance, it actually represents an opportunity to improve, to be more transparent and to demonstrate good and best prac ce. Indeed, each threat is really an opportunity.

For some me now there has been much discussion and considera on of the role that CANQATE should play in facilita ng external reviews of EQAAs against the Guidelines for Good Prac ce (GGP) established by the Interna onal Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Educa on (INQAAHE). More recently, INQAAHE accepted the proposal to develop a “Global Quality Assurance Register” that would lend legi macy to EQAAs that meet established standards. With an eye on these developments, I believe that it is the opportune moment for CANQATE to play a more ac ve role in building the capacity of EQAAs in the Caribbean and strengthening the overall quality assurance framework in the region.

Along with the support of the new Board of Management, we have taken up the challenge to advocate for an enhanced role of quality assurance in ter ary educa on. The Board will con nue to advocate for the growing number of professionals across the region by widening access to training and cer fica on in quality assurance and establishing a code of prac ce amongst quality assurance professionals. The Board is also commi ed to building a Quality Culture through new ini a ves such as the Ethley London Awards that will be launched at the conference in October.

Over the years, CANQATE has been fortunate to have had a group of dedicated founding leaders who have built the Network to what it is now. Many of the founders have served faithfully for years and we owe them our thanks and gra tude. The new Board that was elected in October 2015 may not have all of the history associated with the founding membership, but its members bring new ideas, enthusiasm and commitment to quality. I am encouraging members to let us know what you think are the core issues that CANQATE should focus on. Do the services of CANQATE need improvement? Are there things that need to be communicated or resolved? The Board is ready to listen and to put you to work on the solu ons. So please, let me know if you wish to be involved in any special projects or to bring new ideas forward. You can email me at rbrunton@ac .org. .

I wish to once again thank our colleagues at the St Ki s and Nevis Accredita on Board for hos ng an excellent CANQATE Conference last October. Your hard work was appreciated by all who a ended the Conference. Our next conference scheduled for October 4‐7 will be hosted by the Na onal Accredita on Council, Guyana. So mark these dates on your calendar. I look forward to seeing you there.

CANQATE CONFFERENCE 2016

Con nued from page 1

The Conference itself will feature a mix of plenary and concurrent sessions and a panel discussion with par cipa on by leading regional educators, and policy makers. Professor Ivor Griffith ‐ Vice Chancellor, University of Guyana, will present a plenary session on the topic: Civil Society as a Cri cal Stakeholder in Building and Sustaining a Culture of Quality Assurance; Professor Alan Cobley, UWI, will present on the plenary session: The Role of Na onal and Regional Universi es in Building and Sustaining a Quality Culture in the Caribbean for Na onal and Regional Development; and Professor Compton Bourne will present on the plenary topic: The Cost of Building and the Source of Funding a Sustained Quality Assurance Culture.

The 2016 conference will also allow delegates to experience the uniqueness of Guyana’s culture and provide opportuni es for networking.

C A N Q A T E NEW S | O c o tbe r 2 0 1 6 | P ag e 2

Page 3: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

12   ANNUAL  CANQATE CONFERENCE 

T he 12th Annual CANQATE Conference took place on 7‐9 October 2015 in St Ki s and Nevis. The conference was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Educa on of the Federa on of St Ki s and Nevis and the Accredita on Board of the Federa on of St Ki s and Nevis, under the theme Quality Assurance and Socioeconomic Development in a Global Environment: Regional and Interna onal Perspec ves. The conference was opened by the Hon. Ian Liburd, Minister of Energy, depu sing for the Minister of Educa on who was overseas. The keynote address was given by Director of Medical Educa on , UWI, Cave Hill, Professor Michael Branday on the conference theme.

Under the first CANQATE Quality Footprint Ini a ve (QFI), members of the CANQATE Board of Management hosted two seminars (one in St Ki s and one in Nevis) on the topic “Why Accredita on Ma ers” to sensi se secondary and ter ary educa on students of the importance and benefits of accredita on. The QFI was held before the start of the pre‐conference workshop and main conference. The QFI aims to raise awareness of quality assurance and accredita on issues and strengthen the quality culture in the country in which the CANQATE conference is held.

A pre‐conference workshop held on Wednesday, 7 October,

tled, “Assessing and Improving Financial Health of Educa onal Ins tu ons” was followed by educa onal tours to three of the six medical educa onal ins tu ons located on the island.

A highlight of the Conference was the recogni on of two champions of quality assurance in ter ary educa on in keeping with the mission of CANQATE. Dr Alvin Aston and Professor Emerita Vivienne Roberts were presented with awards for their contribu on to the development of quality in ter ary educa on in region. The presenta ons and other interac ve sessions of the conference were well received by the 150 delegates who a ended the three‐day event.

In addi on to the learning and networking opportuni es, delegates were exposed to rich social and cultural ac vi es, including a recep on hosted by His Excellency Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton, Governor General of St Ki s and Nevis, and an evening of culture at historic Brimstone Hill Fortress.

C A N Q A T E NEW S | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 | P ag e 3

Page 4: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

Q uality Assurance is a burgeoning field in the Caribbean and Caribbean professionals have contributed

significantly to the movement interna onally. Yet, truth be told, prac oners in the field in our region lack a resource book that covers a wide range of topics that is of relevance to experiences of the Caribbean. I realised this shortly a er beginning my own journey as a quality assurance officer serving the Mona Campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI) in 2007. It was then that the idea for Quality in Higher Educa on in the Caribbean was born. So began for me a journey into discovery and collegiality which included several members of CANQATE and many others who started the journey but did not managed to make it to the end. I did not begin to work seriously on the book un l 2012, when I finally invited a group of colleagues to submit chapters and took on the role of editor/contributor. I solicited contribu ons, edited chapters, solicited reviews, compiled and shaped the contents and sought out a publisher. One colleague describes the process as “herding cats” and it was certainly a bit like that at mes. That the University of the West Indies Press recognised the value of such a work speaks volumes to the emerging quality movement in the region. Quality in Higher Educa on in the Caribbean is an edited volume which delivers a unique presenta on of the quality assurance landscape in higher educa on in the Commonwealth Caribbean. It celebrates the “coming of age” of the quality assurance movement by tracing the main currents of development in internal and external quality assurance. Pulling together respected prac oners and leaders from within higher educa on and industry, it explores fundamental issues rela ng to quality and quality assurance, such as financing higher educa on, cross‐border and online educa on, the impact of science and technology, and quality management systems. At the same me, the chapters posit prac cal solu ons rooted in theory and exper se, for example, checklists, frameworks, models, etc. This makes it immediately useful to the seasoned

prac oner, the beginner‐professional and the graduate student interested in managing excellence as a discipline and a professional path. Contributors are former Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, E. Nigel Harris; UWI colleagues Halima‐Sa’adia Kassim, John Gedeon, Patrick Anglin, June Wheatley, Pamela Do n, Sandra

Gi , Haldane Morris, Joel Warrican, Eduardo Ali (now at the CARICOM Secretariat) and Anna‐May Edwards‐Henry; from the University of Technology, Jamaica, Kofi Nkrumah‐Young and G. J. Virgo; from University College of the Caribbean ‐ Dameon Black, from The University of Trinidad and Tobago ‐ Ruby Alleyne, and independent consultants/entrepreneurs Paule e Dunn‐Pierre and Patrick Dallas. Colleagues from UWI, UCJ, HEART‐NTA, UTC, BAC served as reviewers. The collec on explores under‐represented areas and cu ng‐edge topics like MOOCs, ethics in quality assurance, administra ve support in quality, quality assurance in TVET, legisla ve frameworks and strategic planning. The collec on is divided into three (3) related

sec ons: Part I, Founda ons, deals with select issues in higher educa on that impact quality assurance, beginning with teaching and learning. Part II, External Explora ons, looks at quality‐related ma ers within the external quality assurance context. Part III, Internal Issues, focuses on higher educa on ins tu ons and the myriad of issues that impact on quality assurance at the ins tu onal level. The volume ends with a chapter projec ng into the future to explore trends and issues in quality in higher educa on. My sincere thanks to all those who made this volume possible. Happy reading.

Dr Anna Kasafi Perkins is the Senior Programme Officer in the Quality Assurance Unit at The University of the West Indies

Contributed by Anna Perkins

INTRODUCING “QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE

CARIBBEAN” – A FIRST OF ITS KIND

C A N Q A T E NEW S | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 | P ag e 4

Page 5: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS 

T he CANQATE Webinar Series Sharing Best Prac ces for Quality Improvement and Innova on which was launched in August 2014 con nues into 2016 is receiving overwhelming support from members. The

main aim of the hour long webinars is to expand capacity‐building opportuni es for ter ary ins tu ons and quality assurance agencies within the region. The first three webinars in the 2016 series were:

When Innova on Meets Control Presented by Dr Lawrence Ragan, Director of Instruc onal Design and Development, Con nuing and Distance Educa on/World Campus at Penn State University, on 13 April, 2016. Leveraging Strategic Partnerships for Establishing Ins tu onal Effec veness and Excellence: Examina on of Experiences from the Middle East Presented by Dr Eduardo Ali, former Director for Planning and Ins tu onal Effec veness and Manager of the Learning and Development Academy at Jumeira University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 18 May, 2016.

Harmonising Quality Assurance Policies and Prac ce in the Region Presented by Dr Ronald Brunton, President of CANQATE and the Director of Qualifica ons and Recogni on at The Accredita on Council of Trinidad and Tobago, on 15 June, 2016.

Did you miss any of these webinars? The presenta ons and recordings are available from CANQATE. Contact the Secretariat or visit the CANQATE website: h p://canqate.org. Stay tuned for other webinars in the 2016 Series.

CANQATE WEBINAR SERIES

To enhance the quality of ter ary educa on in the Caribbean through research, capacity building, advocacy and enabling members to share informa on and good prac ces

Our Mission

Our Vision A Centre of Excellence in Ter ary Educa on Quality Assurance with a strong membership base that influences ter ary educa on in the Caribbean

C A N Q A T E NEW S | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 | P ag e 5

Page 6: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS 

T he Guyana CANQATE Core Group (GyCCG), which now has 40 members, was launched in February 2016. The highlight of the ceremony was a feature address by the Chief Planning Officer of the Ministry of Educa on. To date, GyCCG has hosted one workshop en tled “Developing and Assessing Learning Outcomes” and has completed work on development of a three year strategic plan, along with the

tac cal plan for 2016‐17. The strategic plan has eight goals, seven of which are included in the tac cal plan for the first year. In that regard, CANQATE’s Strategic Plan was the framework. Much is planned to promote quality assurance, publicise our work, collaborate with like‐minded organisa ons, set the ground work for the pursuit of CANQATE's mandate, recruit new members, retain original members, embark upon the development of an internal QA system, and promote research.

In pursuit of the realisa on of the plan, a comprehensive public rela ons programme in the electronic media has been cra ed and embarked upon. The Core Group also par cipated in the webinars hosted by CANQATE. In conjunc on with NAC of Guyana, the Core Group accommodate no less that 30 persons for each webinar.

In lending support for the hos ng of the 13th Annual CANQATE Conference, the Core Group has mobilised volunteers for various administra ve tasks concerning the Conference.

GyCCG looks forward to co‐hos ng and sharing with regional colleagues at CANQATE Conference 2016 and to the con nued effort to make the post‐secondary and ter ary educa on in the Caribbean quality assured.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CORE GROUP

O n October 22, 2015, the Trinidad and Tobago CANQATE Core Group hosted its second seminar for the year, en tled “From Accredita on to Re‐accredita on: Ins tu onal Perspec ves.” An interac ve panel discussion led by Dr. Ruby Alleyne, VP Quality Assurance and Ins tu onal Effec veness, The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and Immediate Past President CANQATE; Dr. Gillian Paul, President, College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago, Rev. Dr. Errol Joseph, VP Academic Affairs, West Indies School of Theology; and Dr. Pat Butcher, Execu ve Director, Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Ins tute.

Panelists explored aspects of the accredita on process with the greatest impact on their individual ins tu ons, as well as best prac ces and pi alls for aspirants. Major points of consensus emerging from the overall discussion included:

successful ins tu onal accredita on is a holis c effort, driven by management, facilitated by the commitment of adequate resources from ins tu onal boards, and supported by the efforts of employees;

following successful ins tu onal accredita on, ins tu ons should, where necessary, engage in systems re‐design and monitoring as the new norm, in order to facilitate the tracking of quality in all areas of opera on; and

it is cri cal that an appropriate accredita on team leader

with the right combina on of leadership skills is selected to ensure widespread par cipa on and sustained effort in the face of what is an exhaus ve exercise.

Finally, panellists proffered sugges ons for ACTT to enhance na onal accredita on processes, through periodic review and evalua on of criteria, standards and procedures to ensure their con nued relevance to the changing demands of a rapidly evolving ter ary educa on sector.

Par cipants at the seminar: ‘From Accredita on to Re‐Accredita on – Ins tu onal Perspec ves’, Oct. 22nd 2015, Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago.

GUYANA CANQATE CORE GROUP

C EQAA C G

C A N Q A T E NEW S | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 | P ag e 6

Page 7: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS 

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD

I t has been a very interes ng year for the An gua and Barbuda Na onal Accredita on Board (ABNAB). ABNAB con nued to work with providers of ter ary educa on in An gua and Barbuda encouraging them to improve quality standards and to seek accredita on. There are, however, some ‘stand out’ ac vi es which must be highlighted.

During the past year, ABNAB conducted sessions with four educa on providers who approached us for further informa on on programme accredita on. These sessions detailed the processes involved in programme accredita on and the ins tu ons were given step‐by‐step guidelines.

Another ins tu on requested informa on on ins tu onal accredita on. A power‐point presenta on was made to the ins tu on, and this was very well received. Plans are under way for a workshop on preparing for the ins tu onal self‐study. This workshop will be conducted in the very near future.

During the past year, ABNAB con nued to engage the general public through regular appearances on public and private radio sta ons in An gua and Barbuda. In fact, with some sta ons, the ABNAB team had to make two appearances as the ini al presenta ons garnered much interest, and the ques ons which followed could not have been answered in depth within the

me‐slot originally given to us. Appearances on the local television sta on also generated much interest.

The print media was also targeted as an avenue for spreading the ABNAB message of quality in ter ary educa on. The Caribbean Times, a local daily newspaper, now publishes an ar cle from ABNAB every Friday.

Engaging our stakeholders in the sister island of Barbuda was also was a big part of ABNAB’s agenda in 2016. The ABNAB Team was able to travel by air and spend a day in Barbuda. A special presenta on was made to members of the Barbuda Council who encouraged ABNAB to con nue its work, and they pledged the Council’s support.

In the absence of the fi h formers who were preparing for CSEC examina ons, third and fourth form students of the Sir Mc Chesney George Secondary School were a given an opportunity to hear about the work of ABNAB, and to pose ques ons. The teaching staff of both the primary and the secondary schools in Barbuda were also invited to take part in interac ve sessions which provided them with informa on relevant to their needs. ABNAB con nued its school outreach programme on island in 2016, and 15 of the 20 government and private schools were visited. In addi on to providing general informa on about accredita on and emphasising the need to be aware of diploma mills and other similar ins tu ons, the ABNAB team included in its presenta on, a 7‐ step guide to college/university selec on.

The launch of ABNAB’s website was one of the major highlights this year. The Website was launched on Friday 02 September 2016. We invite you to visit us at www.abnab.edu.ag. ABNAB now has the ability to market its message more widely since our reach has widened considerably. The ABNAB Facebook page and the ABNAB quarterly on‐line newsle er also remain valuable tools which we will con nue to use.

ABNAB looks forward to con nuing to fulfil its important mandate of “promo ng an ethos of quality in An gua and Barbuda” as it collaborates with its local and regional stakeholders.

C A N Q A T E NEW S | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 | P ag e 7

Page 8: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS 

BARBADOS ACCREDITATION COUNCIL

T he Barbados Accredita on Council (BAC) and the Mauri us Qualifica ons Authority (MQA) have entered into a Technical Coopera on and Partnership Arrangement to share knowledge, experiences and exper se for the implementa on of the Na onal Qualifica ons Framework (NQF). Mr Robin Phoolchund, Director (Ag), Mr V. A Ramchurn, Manager, Framework Services and Mr Ramsamy Nookadee, Accredita on Officer of MQA spearheaded a scoping mission in prepara on for the implementa on phase of the NQF, during the week of April 11 – 15, 2016. The intensive week involved capacity building of BAC staff which included examining the BAC’s Quality Assurance (QA) policies and procedures. During the one day workshop, the impending implementa on of the NQF was discussed and the MQA team shared their valuable insights and

experiences on the steps that would be necessary to ensure a successful outcome for Barbados. Ter ary educa onal providers and other key stakeholders also benefi ed from a two‐day workshop held at Almond Bay Caterers, Has ngs on April 12 and 13. The Hon. Ronald D. Jones, J.P., M.P., Minister of Educa on, Science, Technology and Innova on delivered the Feature Address at the opening of the workshop. Stressing the importance of providers seeking recogni on, Minister Jones stated “Ter ary educa onal providers will therefore need to be, at minimum,

registered in order to have their qualifica ons placed on the NQF which will signal they have met minimum standards to operate in Barbados. However, the ul mate goal will be to achieve accredita on status – either ins tu onal or programma c – which will provide global recogni on that the ins tu on or programme has met quality standards established by the Barbados Accredita on Council, most likely would be the follow‐through organisa on to carry both the qualifica on framework and the accredita on process.” Minister Jones also thanked the Board of Directors of the MQA and the MQA team for kindly readily consen ng to assist Barbados at this “cri cal juncture in the development of its human resources”, and reminded those gathered that the island’s key resource was indeed its human resources.

The Mauri us team, Mr Phoolchund, Director (Ag) (centre right), Mr Ramchurn, Manager, Framework Services (right) and Mr Nookadee, Accredita on Officer,(le ) sharing their knowledge with Ms Valda Alleyne, Execu ve Director (head of table) and staff of BAC

Minister of Educa on, Science, Technology and Innova on, Hon. Ronald D. Jones, J.P, M.P. addressing the par cipants of the 2‐day workshop, with Ms Valda Alleyne, Execu ve Director, BAC and Mr Phoolchund, Director (Ag), MQA at the head table

Participants at the 2-day workshop

C A N Q A T E NEW S | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 | P ag e 8

Page 9: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

GRENADA NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS 

T he Grenada Na onal Accredita on Board (GNAB) was launched by the Minister for Educa on and Human Resource Development in January 2014, following legisla on passed in 2004 and legisla ve acts in 2011 by the Government of Grenada.

Following the launch, GNAB embarked on the development of appropriate policies, frameworks, procedures and processes for the accredita on of ins tu ons and programmes. Since then, a webpage for the Board has been created. Upgrading of the webpage into a fully func oning portal will occur during the coming year.

GNAB has also been instrumental in the development of the Accredita on Act for medical programmes delivered in Grenada. The Act was passed in Parliament together with the relevant Statuary Rules and Order. CAAM‐HP is now the agency responsible for accredi ng medical programmes delivered in Grenada. In addi on, GNAB has successfully applied to the Na onal Commi ee on Foreign Medical Educa on and Accredita on (NCFMEA) for comparability of the standard and processes used to accredit medical schools in Grenada. NCFMEA reviewed the applica on to determine the comparability of Grenada’ medical accredita on system for Doctor of Medicine programmes, or equivalent, to systems to accredit such programmes in the USA. Grenada has been issued the Le er of Comparability which now allows United States students a ending St George’s University School of Medicine to access direct loans to help cover educa onal expenses.

In recent mes, GNAB has embarked on a capacity building ini a ve to develop exper se in quality assurance. To this effect, three individuals have been given scholarships to

par cipate in the Quality Assurance Course. This is an online programme offered by the Commonwealth of Learning in collabora on with the University of Mauri us. Par cipants will receive either a cer ficate in Quality Assurance or a Post Graduate Diploma. The programme is designed to help par cipants develop an understanding of the higher educa on context in which quality assurance agencies operate. One component of the programme aims to help quality assurance agencies design good quality assurance prac ces and accountability measures.

GNAB has also been able to secure technical assistance through the Commonwealth of Learning. A consultant is working with GNAB to organise an Accredita on Secretariat to perform day‐to‐day ac vi es of the accredita on process. Addi onally, the consultant will review exis ng policies, frameworks, procedures and processes to facilitate the accredita on of ins tu ons and programmes.

Looking ahead: On the list of priori es for GNAB is implementa on of the Accredita on Secretariat; developing a Na onal Qualifica ons Framework; registra on and accredita on of two exis ng ins tu ons; and guiding the establishment of a new theological ins tu on. The Board will also embark on conduc ng sessions to sensi se the public on the established criteria for the registra on and accredita on of ter ary ins tu ons and providers, opera ng in Grenada.

The Grenada Na onal Accredita on Board takes this opportunity to express its apprecia on to the Commonwealth of Learning, ACTT, ABNAB, Na onal Accredita on Council of Guyana and UCJ for their con nued support.

Co

mm

itm

en

t to

Ex

celle

nce

Re

sear

ch F

ocu

s

Inn

ova

ven

ess

Incl

usi

ven

ess

Stra

tegi

c In

flu

en

ce

C A N Q A T E NEW S | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 | P ag e 9

Page 10: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS 

T he na on state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines consists of 32 islands and cays. Mainland St. Vincent is the largest of the archipelagic chain. Over the past year the Na onal Accredita on Board (NAB), through its Secretariat, the Accredita on Unit (AU), made a concerted effort to engage in a series of public educa on campaigns. This step became necessary despite the AU/NAB services to the public since 2009. It was deemed necessary to demys fy some of the concerns that appear to challenge the growth of the quality assurance ethos in the state.

Accordingly, several public awareness strategies were employed by the AU/NAB to remedy the situa on. Some of the strategies employed were par cipa ng in public fairs or exhibi ons, schools’ outreach; and engaging public sector employees, as well as academic providers. The two sectors which hold significance to this report are the public sector employees, as well as academic providers. The public sector employees chosen were the classroom teachers. Significant too, were the small providers, albeit for a different reason. With the excep on of one, the small providers began offering their services before the advent AU/NAB

The objec ve for enlis ng the support of the classroom teachers was based on the economics of the ripple effect. That is, the unique capacity teachers have to inexpensively disseminate informa on to large numbers of persons directly and indirectly. One aspect of this teacher‐based public awareness strategy was the Grenadines Campaigne. This two‐day outreach took place late August as a part of the annual Professional Development Week mandated for teachers na onwide.

This strategy enabled the AU/NAB to reach directly or indirectly the 10,000 inhabitants of the two islands through targe ng the teachers on two of the Grenadines islands (Union Island and Bequia). Par cipants were advised that the AU/NAB revised its system of verifica on of creden als. Whereas an over‐the‐counter system was used in previous years. Customers have to submit their creden als in advance. Jus fica ons for the revised system was provided. During this outreach, par cipants were also exposed to samples of fraudulent documents/cer ficates and creden als obtained from diploma mills. This was done to give par cipants an apprecia on of the revised system. This ini a ve was deemed a success based on the inquiries which were made at the AU/NAB following the event.

A workshop targe ng small providers, under the cap on “Earning a degree is not whimsical; therefore Quality Assurance is not op onal”, was another aspect of the public awareness campaign undertaken in April of this year. There were two desired short‐term outcomes. The first was for providers to be given support in the registra on process, hence resul ng in some introspec on on the part of providers. Secondly, the AU/NAB hoped that the gathering would facilitate networking among colleges which have similar concerns.

An invita on was extended to Senior Educa on Officers (SEOs) to a end this workshop. The AU/NAB, an cipate that in the long run both the providers and the SEOs will become visible in the na onal conversa on on the importance of strengthening the quality assurance ethos.

Presenters and par cipants at the April 2016 Quality Assurance Workshop

Ms. Jonelle O’Garro and Ms. Desiree Robinson on the Grenadine is-land of Bequia

C A N Q A T E NEW S | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 | P ag e 1 0

Page 11: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

NEWS AND HAPPENINGS 

THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL OF JAMAICA

A preliminary study carried out with members of the Human Resource Management Associa on of Jamaica (HRMAJ) and final year undergraduate students from a local ter ary ins tu on iden fied the skills and a ributes students need to develop and hone, in order to enter the job market and be successful in their career. The results from the study, conducted in March 2016, suggest that employers, when hiring recent graduates, place importance on communica on skills; emo onal intelligence; personal appearance and deportment; and the level of knowledge and skills specific to the graduates’ chosen career; the accredita on status of the programmes from which graduates have come, and the prac cal experience students have in the area of employment. Employers’ expecta ons of skills and a ributes required for the workplace were ranked as follows: working with others in a team; coping with stressful situa ons; intellectual ability and intelligence; honesty, accountability and ethical standards; and taking responsibility. Several other factors were considered important, including: students’ academic achievements; and knowledge and skills beyond the areas of employment. There were similar pa erns in rela on to what students perceived to be some of the key factors employers valued as

important when hiring, ranked in a different order, however. These were: knowledge and skills specific to their chosen career; communica on skills; the accredita on status of the programmes; emo onal intelligence; and academic achievement. Students’ percep ons of the skills and a ributes for the workplace were: having a posi ve a tude towards work; working with others in a team; honesty, accountability and ethical standards; cri cal thinking and reasoning skills; and taking responsibility. The findings of this preliminary study were presented at a Students’ Forum held during the UCJ’s celebra on of its 11th Annual Quality Assurance in Ter ary Educa on Week from March 7‐11, 2016, under the theme Assuring Quality in Programme Outcomes: Impera ve for Graduate Effec veness. The forum concluded with a robust panel discussion on the findings. The UCJ will be conduc ng a larger study and will be seeking employers’ support as the organisa on delves deeper into this cri cal area of ensuring that the na on’s graduates are developing the skills required by employers in Jamaica and abroad.

Panellists respond to ques ons at the Students’ Forum

Par cipants listen intently to the presenta on on “Workplace Skills and A ributes” at the Students’ Forum

C A N Q A T E NEW S | O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 | P ag e 1 1

Page 12: Newsletter  conference 2016 final draft

CANQATE SECRETARIAT

c/o The Accredita on Council of Trinidad and Tobago Ground Floor and Level 3

Building B, Pan‐American Life Plaza 91‐93 St Vincent Street

Port of Spain, Trinidad, W.I. Tel: (868) 623‐2500.

E‐mail: [email protected]

On the web at: h p://canqate.org