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Promoting workforce developmentthrough demand-driven trainingThe planned ultimate outcome of the C-EFE program is an increased competitive, productive and gender-equitable workforce in the CARICOM region and program activities from April - November 2012 were designed with that goal in mind.

C-EFE supported the Caribbean Association of National Training Agency’s (CANTA’s) work in a number of areas -- consultations on the revised Regional TVET Strategy, workshops to

develop skills in producing occupational standards and assessment procedures to certify competence, and participation in CANTA meetings.

C-EFE staff began working with another key regional partner, the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions, to support their development of a leadership training programme designed to assist institutional leaders tasked with managing training institutions responsive to the needs of the workplace.

Demand-driven training organizations need good labour market intelligence to plan programming and align resources. C-EFE is convening a working group to design a portal to house available LMI for use across the region.

During this period, the first 7 of 16 institutional partnerships were launched between Caribbean and Canadian colleges and institutes.

Participants in the PLAR Forum observe an assessment of competency in cosmetology at a YTEPP training centre in Trinidad.

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The World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics provides leadership in delivering workforce education and links colleges and polytechnics from across the globe in discussions of skills training. In May, 2012, ACCC was proud to co-host the bi-annual World Congress in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

C-EFE sponsored the participation of 15 Caribbean nationals from 11 countries. Participants were drawn from National Training Agencies, TVET Councils, the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies, the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions, and training providers. Two delegates participated in a pre- and post- conference workshop focused on leadership in the field of skills training.

Two local ACCC members, the Nova Scotia Community College and the Nova Scotia Agriculture College (now part of Dalhousie University), hosted the delegation for college visits prior to the opening of the conference. Delegates remarked that these visits were helpful in demonstrating how Canadian colleges are fully engaged in the larger community through applied research, local

economic development projects, and strong employer networks.

Participants were inspired by presentations from delegates from across the world, and pleased to join in the discussions. A number of delegates were also presenters, sharing the Caribbean experience and making contributions to the learning of international delegates.

The Caribbean delegates enjoyed the opportunity to network with each other as well as with Canadian and international delegates.

“It was clear that TVET can be shown to be central to economic development and the quality of life in a country.”

“Key players in TVET came together to address common challenges -- basically, all countries are on a continuum.”World Congress Delegates

World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics Halifax, May 2012

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World Congress Caribbean DelegationRepresentatives of 11 CARICOM countries attended the World Congress in May, 2012.

Caribbean presenters at the conference included Minister Fazal Karim from Trinidad and Tobago; Elphege Joseph, Chair of the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies; Angela Samuels-Harris, President of the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions; Marcia Rowe-Amonde and Vent Brown from the HEART Trust, and Fritz Pinnock, Executive Director of the Caribbean Maritime Institute

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Gender and Environment InitiativesThe C-EFE Gender and TVET Working group went virtual after their face to face meeting in March.

An online document repository and discussion area was set up to share information with one another, and an online meeting was held in October to discuss several of the C-EFE initiatives and to solicit input on gender analysis and mainstreaming strategies for the program activities.

Gender and environment planning guidelines for the institutional partnerships were developed and will be used to mainstream gender and sustainability throughout the work of the colleges.

C-EFE has made a commitment to “greening” its meetings and working with partners to develop strategies to ensure the environment is considered in all sponsored activities.

Regional TVET StrategySkills and Credentials -- the New Global CurrencyAfter a series of consultations with key stakeholders in 12 countries, consultants Robert Gregory and Brenda Cooke provided CANTA with a report, “Key Components of the Revised CARICOM Regional TVET Strategy.”

The report made a series of recommendations for updating the 1990 document, and for repositioning TVET as a key support to workforce development and economic competitiveness. A second round of consultations, with an even broader stakeholder group, including employers, parents, youth, labour, and secondary schools was completed in September and October to validate the recommendations. Participants in this second round were recruited as advocates of the new policy and tasked with promoting it in their respective countries.

Based on this input, the consultants have drafted the new CARICOM Regional TVET Strategy for Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness; Skills and Credentials -- the New Global

Currency, for presentation to CANTA at their meeting in November 2012.

The strategy has 7 components: • TVET Redefined and Promoted as

an AGent of Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness;

• TVET Integrated with General Education for Life and Livelihood;

• A CARICOM Training System; • Labour Market Intelligence for

Workforce Development; • Career Guidance and Counseling; • Instructor Training;

• Financing: Public/Private Partnerships.

It outlines an implementation plan and articulates the roles and responsibilities for CANTA, NTAs, Ministries, training institutions, employers, workers and social partners in training and certifying the workforce required for economic growth in the region.

Watch a video of one of the consultation presentations here.

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“This Strategy focuses on the vision of “Sustainable economic prosperity through the creation of a globally competitive regional workforce enabled by a market-responsive education system.” Robert Gregory

Gender Working GroupC-EFE Gender Specialist Alicia Mondesire leads a discussion of the group at the face to face meeting in March 2012.

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CANTA’s Occupational Standards Sub-Committee met in Trinidad from September 10 - 13, and, with support from C-EFE, representatives from 12 countries were able to participate in the review and approval of 24 new occupational standards for submission to CANTA as Caribbean Vocational Qualifications. The meeting and a two-day workshop which followed were facilitated by the Sub-Committee Chair, Ludlow Thompson from NCTVET in Jamaica. Senator The Honorable Fazal Karim addressed this group on the closing day. You can view his presentation here.

A Regional Forum on Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition was held from September 26 - 28, also in Trinidad, to allow participants to visit the Workforce Assessment Centres providing PLAR services. Grant MacTavish, RPL Coordinator at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, presented on current practices in prior learning assessment in Canada.

A workshop on gathering Labour Market Intelligence was held in Belize in August, facilitated by Paul Swinwood, who shared a tool kit outlining a simple methodology for gathering local information.

CANTA WorkshopsOccupational Standards, PLAR, LMI

Janelle Phillip, HR Manager, Powergen presents at the PLAR Forum held in late September.

“Powergen was powerful.”

“Very useful. Important for industry and NTAs to work together to empower the labour force.”

“PLAR is not presently used at my workplace. I will do everything to have that changed.”

PLAR Forum participant comments.

Below: At the Occupational Standards workshop (L to R) Elphege Joseph, Elaine Shakes, Minister Karim, and facilitator Ludlow Thompson.

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Over the summer, seven Caribbean institutions identified programs for development or renewal through partnerships with Canadian colleges or institutes. ACCC then distributed the Terms of Reference they developed to their membership.

33 proposals were received, a number from consortiums of Canadian institutions. Each Caribbean institution formed a review team to rank the proposals, and travelled to Toronto to interview their short-listed applicants on October 25.

These are the first 7 of 16 planned partnerships:• The Linden Technical Institute (Guyana) and

the College of the North Atlantic (in partnership with the Fisheries and Marine Institute): Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance

• The National Tool and Engineering Institute (Jamaica) with St. Lawrence College: Renewable Energy

• T.A. Marryshow Community College (Grenada) with the Nova Scotia Community College: Cultural Industries

• The University of Belize Central Farm Campus with Lakeland College (in partnership with Bow Valley College and Parkland College): Agriculture

• Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (St. Lucia) with Seneca College: Early Childhood Development

• St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College with the University of Guelph, Kemptville Campus (in partnership with Dalhousie University): Agriculture

• Dominica State College with Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture --formerly Nova Scotia Agriculture College (in partnership with University of Guelph): Agriculture

“It was good to have background on all of the Canadian institutions, even the ones that had to be eliminated. We could learn from all of them.”

“You cannot take the written proposals at face value; the interaction with Canadian presenters showed gaps and misunderstandings not evident in the proposals and led to a more objective appraisal of the candidates.”

First institutional partnerships launchedSeven Caribbean institutions choose Canadian partners

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College Partnership Selection One of the highlights of the mission to Canada was a visit to Centennial College’s Progress Campus, where the Caribbean guests were warmly received and introduced to curriculum development and approval procedures in the Canadian college system.

CANTA Vice Chair, Lincoln Morgan, congratulates the Dominica team on their partnership selection.

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Ongoing C-EFE ActivitiesC-EFE continues to work with CANTA on the development of a CANTA business plan to ensure its sustainability as a regional authority for standards approval and quality assurance for the CVQ. C-EFE has also been working with CANTA on a selection process for technical staff to work on behalf of CANTA members to strengthen the regional network of NTAs. CANTA meets in Belize City from November 29 - December 1 2012.

C-EFE has been working with ACTI to plan an Leadership Institute for key leaders in the TVET development and delivery system across the region. The concept will be presented to the ACTI membership at their upcoming conference, November 14 - 16 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

A working group to guide the development of a portal to house labour market intelligence is being convened for an inaugural meeting in Guyana on November 22.

Representatives from the Canadian and Caribbean colleges in the first 7 partnerships will meet for an orientation session in Barbados on December 6 and 7. A second round of partnerships, with Caribbean colleges from Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis is expected early in 2013.

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C-EFE was sorry to lose two staff members, Dominique van de Maele and Jean-Guy Vienneau, to new opportunities over the summer. We are very pleased, however, to introduce our new team members -- Craig Morrison, Senior Technical Advisor for Suriname and Guyana, and Milica Njegovan, Senior Program Officer, based in Ottawa. Rhonda Garcia joined the team as an administrative assistant working with the Regional Coordinator in Trinidad.

A workshop on results-based management for CEFE’s key partners is scheduled for January 16 and 17 in St. Kitts.

Prepared with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)