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Finalists Debate The Impact Of Social Media On The Quality of Written Expression

By Ashlee Cox

Itwasafiercebattle,astheAlexandra Secondary School andthe St. Michael’s School, battled forsupremacy over the moot whichposited, ’The Extensive Use of Social Media Has a Negative Impact on the Quality of Written Expression’, during the Finals, ofthefirstever,BarbadosAccreditationCouncil (BAC) National SecondarySchoolDebateCompetition. Thiscompetitionattractedsixschools, and held three preliminaryrounds, which saw the studentsdebatingthemeritsofthethenmoot,

which suggested, ‘The Inclusion of Technology in the class room increases student engagement’.Duringthefirstround,theFrederickSmithSecondarySchool,defeatedthePrincessMargaretSecondarySchool,and in Round Two the St.Michael’sSchool,holdingsupremacyovertheirSt.Michaelcounterpart,theHarrisonCollege. Itwas inRound3of thesepreliminary debates, that theAlexandrateam,triumphedovertheSpringer Memorial School, and outofthethreewinners,thetwoteamswiththehighestscoreswerechosento battle it out at the Finals,whichwas held at the Barbados Public

Workers Cooperative Credit UnionLtd.,BelmontRoad,St.Michael. The team hailing fromAlexandra, the ‘YAPS’ which standsfor‘YoungArticulatePublicSpeakers’,as the Proposition and the St.Michael’s team, the ‘SMS dynamicSpeakers’arguedasOpposition. Withbothteamsemphaticallydelivering their points, it was atruly interesting debate, and thestudents and teachers who cameout to spectate and observe wereon tenterhooks, as to which schoolwould rise supreme and take homethebigtrophy.(cont’d on page 6)

-Chairman’sWord Page2-UWICaveHill&Open

CampusesGrantedAccreditation Page3

-FromtheDeskoftheE.D.Page 4

-DevelopmentWorkshopsPage 5

-BACNews Page9-QualityChecksforStudent

RecordsPage10-NQFStudyTours

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The concept of “Quality”is increasingly becoming a buzzword in Barbados given the needto provide excellence in service atthenationallevelparticularlyinkeyeconomic sectors such as health,financial and the tourism andhospitality.

Tertiary education andtraining must be no exceptionwhenitcomestoexpectingqualityprovision.Similarlytotheotherkeysectors, the focusmustbeon thecustomerwhohascometoexpectthattheproductorservicewillmeetorexceedhis/hersatisfaction.

In the world of education, thereis ongoing debate as to who isthe customer in education? Isit the student, tertiary provider,government, parents/guardians,societyatlarge?

The consensus is that the“student” is the customer whoseneeds must not only be met butbeyond expectations. In thisworld of increasing competition,growing emergence of privateproviders, privatization andinternationalization of education,local tertiary educational providersmust become increasingly qualityconscioustotheextentthat“qualityconsciousness” is embeddedthrough the implementation ofquality management systemsaimedatensuringtheirsurvivalandsustainability.

Weallacceptthateducationiscriticaltotheeconomicandsocialwell being, at the individual andnationallevel.Thefocuson“quality”educational provision is thereforefundamentaltothesustainabilityofeconomies,likeBarbadosgiventhatitsonlyresourceisitshumancapital.“Quality” istheoneconstantthingthat we chase after in our lives.Whetherwedesireagreatpayingjob, a luxury car or a comfortablehome,weareall seeking thebestqualityinsomethingforourselves.

When it comes to oureducation, thispursuitofworthdoesnotdwindle.Infact,withsomanychoicesofinstitutionslocallyandinternationally,allofwhomwave the flag of

excellence before us,

it ismaybedifficult todistinguish“quality” providers andmakewisechoicesfromthemanyopportunitiesavailabletous.

TheBarbadosAccreditationCouncilwillshowtertiaryeducationalprovidershowtheycanbecometheobvious, tested andproven choiceforqualityeducationalprovisionandhow they can maintain that edgeas they continue to strive in thiscompetitiveglobalenvironment.

Whiletheconcept“Quality”may appear to be somewhatelusive,itstandsfortwoverysimplebutpowerful concepts.Thefirst is“fit for purpose” and the other is“getting it right the first time”. Iwanttopersonallyassurethepublicthat once educational providershave gone through the BarbadosAccreditation Council’s registrationprocess, then the educationalprovideris“fitforpurpose”.

Programme Accreditationhowever takes you deeper inthe generation of quality. Whilequalityassuranceactivitiessuchasregistration gives the public that“peace of mind” that educationalproviders are operating at the topof their game as far as being aneducational provider is concerned,Programme Accreditationguarantees the credibility of the(cont’d on page 8)

CHAIRMAN’S WORD

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UWI Cave Hill & Open Campuses Granted Institutional Accreditation History was created inBarbados with the granting ofInstitutional accreditation to theUniversity of the West Indies’ CaveHill and Open Campuses for theperiod June 18, 2013 to June 17,2019. This recognition wasbestowed on the Campuses at twoseparate presentation ceremoniesatBarbadosAccreditationCouncil’s(BAC)headquarters. Chairman of the Council,Yvonne Walkes, in handing overthe Certificates of InstitutionalAccreditation commendedthe Open Campus and said:“Institutional accreditation by anauthorised agency such as theBAC will give learners and thewidernationalcommunitygreaterconfidence in the quality of theoveralloperationsofyourCampus. “InstitutionalAccreditationfurther signals to the internationaltertiary education and trainingcommunityofBarbados’commitmentas a nation, to the provision ofhigh quality post-secondary/tertiaryeducation; and that our country’strainingprovides‘ValueForMoney’. Ms. Walkes added that inorder to be accorded accreditationstatus, all facets of the operationsof the educational organisation,including its vision/mission; thequalityoftheeducationalprovisions,educational goals and objectives,administrative effectiveness and allotherrelatedserviceswerereviewedbytheAccreditationbody. “Institutional accreditationtherefore, seeks to assurestakeholders that the educational

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providerisoperatingatahighlevelofqualityinallaspectsofitsoperations,”shestressed. “Giventhecurrentcompetitivestructure of the regionalmarket fortertiary education, this developmentmeans that more than ever before,institutions of higher education willhavetobecomemoreaccountableto

their variousstakeholders,” sheexplained.Prof. Simmons-McDonald alsoa c k n o w l e d g e dthat the UWIVice Chancellor,ProfessorE.NigelHarris,inwelcomingtherecognitionhadstated:“ThisisaspecialmomentforourUniversityinthat it legitimises our investment inopenanddistanceeducationstartedin 2008. It also sets the stage formassive expansion of this modality

BAC’s Chairman, Yvonne Walkes presents thecertificate of Institutional Accreditation to Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Universityof theWestIndiesCaveHillCampus,ProfessorSirHilaryBeckles,whileBAC’sExecutiveDirector,ValdaAlleyneandtheCampus’DeputyPrincipal,ProfessorEudineBarriteaulookon.

of education in the Caribbean tobe delivered by the University as awhole.” Professor Sir Hilary Beckleswelcomed the recognition,whichhehadenvisionedmanyyearsprior. TheUWICaveHillandOpenCampusesjointheMonaandtheSt.Augustine Campuses which were

granted accreditation last yearby their respective Councils inJamaicaandTrinidadandTobago. The BarbadosAccreditation Council must bethe guardian of the tertiaryeducational sector by ensuringthat current and prospectivestudentsarenottakenadvantageof by unscrupulous educationalproviders. This was the message sentby the Chairman of the Council,MsWalkes.

(from left to right) BAC’s Executive Director, ValdaAlleyneandChairman,YvonneWalkes;TheUniversityof the West IndiesOpen Campus’s Pro-ViceChancellor and Principal,Professor Hazel Simmons-McDonald, and DeputyPrincipal, Vivienne RobertposewiththecertificateofInstitutionalAccreditation.

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FROM THE DESK OF THEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Barbados AccreditationCouncil has been given the task ofspearheadingPillar2oftheBarbadosHuman Resources DevelopmentStrategy, 2011-2016. This Pillarspeaks to the strategic objective ofdeveloping and implementating aninternationally-recognised NationalQualificationsFramework’.

What is the National Qualifications Framework? A National QualificationsFrameworkisamajormechanismforshowing how different qualificationsof a country relate to each other.It enables for different types ofqualificationstobecomparedthroughacommonlanguageofthedescriptorsofthosequalificationsandthelevelsof thosequalifications.Forexample,itwillstatetheknowledge,skillsandunderstandingexpectedofa learnerwith a Bachelor’s degree and; thelevel at which that qualification willberecognizedwithintheframework.Globally, most countries haveimplemented or are moving towardimplementing 10-level qualificationsframeworks. Most important, thequalifications are registered on theframework.

How does the NQF fit within the Human Resource Development Strategy? The Human ResourceDevelopment Strategy is intendedto develop the full potential of allBarbadians.Toachieve thisMission,

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intotheoveralleducationalsystem;• facilitate the mobility of labourwhich is particularly critical for thefree movement of skilled CARICOMnationalsacrosstheregion;• promote life-long and life-widelearning as the NQF will make iteasier for learners to enter theeducational system and to progresswithin it through the transferof credits between institutionsand programmes, portability ofqualifications and recognition ofoccupationalcompetencies;• provide for the comparability oftechnical and vocational educationandtrainingwhichshouldresultinanenhancedimageofTVET;and• facilitate the Recognition of PriorLearning;and• overall, enhance the social andeconomicdevelopmentofBarbados.

Over the next few months,the Council will continue to offerpublic information to providea better understanding as ourcountrymoves forward tomeetinternationalbestpractisesintheeducationandtrainingsector.

theBarbadosNationalQualificationsFramework, as a critical plank ofthe Human Resource DevelopmentStrategy,willbringtogether,primary,secondary, technical vocationaleducation and training and; tertiarylevels of education under a single,coherent qualifications frameworkin that there will be a strong linkbetween the different educationalsectors. Equally important, theNQFwillstateclearlytheeducationalandoccupational outcomes expectedfor each level of qualification sothat they can be incorporated intothe teaching and delivery by alleducationalproviders.

What will be the benefits of this framework after it has been implemented?Itwill:

•aligneducationandtrainingatalllevels;• enhance the quality ofeducation and training whichshould result in improvedintegrity in the system andimproved confidence by thepublic;•makeBarbados’ educationalsystem more demand-drivenatalllevels;• enable employers,students, parents/guardians,professional bodies,international recognitionbodies and other interestedusers to understand thosequalificationsbeingofferedinBarbadosandwhere theyfit

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TheCouncilhostedanumberof workshops in its efforts to offercontinued development for theisland’stertiaryeducationalproviders.

Programme Accreditation

Workshop

This workshop attractedover 25 participants from varioustertiaryeducationalprovidersaroundthe island. This flagship workshopofferedprovidersthetoolsformakingtheaccreditationprocessasefficientas possible and provided tips forfacilitatingprogrammeaccreditation.

MsYvonneWalkes,ChairmanoftheCouncildeliveredtheOpeningRemarks. She declared that, “Theconcept of “Quality” is increasinglybecoming a buzz word in Barbadosgiventheneedtoprovideexcellencein service at the national levelparticularly in key economic sectorssuchashealth,financial,tourismandhospitality.” Ms Walkes went on tohighlighthoweducationfits intotheconceptofquality,“Tertiaryeducationand training must be no exceptionwhen it comes to expecting qualityprovision. Similarly to the other key

Developmental WorkshopsMsYvonneWalkes(centre),ChairmanoftheCouncilwithMrsSharonAlleyne,ActingExecutiveDirector(left);MsTamaraGibson,QualityAssuranceOfficerandtheparticipantsoftheProgrammeAccreditationWorkshop

Participantsattheworkshop

sectors, the focus must be on thecustomer who has come to expectthattheproductorservicewillmeetorexceedhis/hersatisfaction.”

TheChairmanpointedoutthatprogrammeaccreditation isdifferentfrominstitutionalaccreditation.Itisespecially necessary for specializedareasofstudy.

Customized Workshop

Staff members of theBarbados Community College,Erdiston Teachers College andSamuelJackmanPrescodPolytechnicparticipated in a customizedRegistrationworkshophostedbytheCouncil.

MrsCecileHumphrey,Permanent Secretary oftheMinistryofEducation,Science, Technologyand InnovationdeliveredtheOpeningRemarks. MrsHumphreyexpressedthattheMinistrywaspleasedtoseethatthe participating

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providers were ready to take thenecessarystepstowardsregistrationbytheBarbadosAccreditationCouncilbytheendof2014. Programme Approval

Workshop

This workshop attractedapproximately twenty participantsfrom various tertiary educationalproviders.

Mr KennethWalters, DeputyChairmanoftheCouncildeliveredtheOpening Remarks. He commendedthe participants for recognizing(cont’d on page 11)

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Finalists debate the impact of Social Media on written Expression quality cont’d

By Ashlee CoxTheAlexandrateam,heldtothepointsthat were evident during their ownresearchandwassupportedbyotherauthoritative research; Social mediawas indeed addictive and impactednegativelyontheindividual’swritingability to clearly express themselvesinStandardEnglish.

As noted byProposition leader,Isobella Burhnham,“PracticeMakesPerfect!”

Citing that manyyouths spent up to 15hours a day on Socialmedia, she explainedthatnomatterwhereoneturned,theimpactoftheextended usages wereevident, especially as ithadmadeitswayintotheformalwrittenexpression.“The language we usedaily,- which is socialmedia language-, theone we have practiced for so longis tearing apart the very fabric of

For the Opposition, Socialmediawasseenasameretool,andtheuser,madehisownchoiceastohowheusedit,buttheystressedthatthe user had to stop blaming socialmedia for their own actions, andsimplybemoreresponsible.

“It is a tool, aninanimate object,used to assistpeople to create,share and exchangeinformation. Thereseems to be atrend in blaminginanimate objectsfor one’s actions.My understandingfrom this, is whenall else fails, blametechnology,” chargedOpposition leaderJanaeKelman.Continuing , shenoted, “People

choose to write the appropriateform based on the appropriatesettings.Socialmediamustbefoundinnocent of this charge! It has not

the standard english, leaving ussometimestotallyconfusedwithwhatthe message communicated,” shestated.Continuing, shenoted, “Thisextensive use continues, and it hasbad habits, which will cement andtheseare irreversiblewritinghabits,thenitwillbetoolatetodo

somethingaboutit,musclememorywould have taken over and

practice would evidentlybecomepermanent.

It is criticalthat the user ofsocial mediamanages hisaddiction, inordertokeepexpress ions t a n d a r d ,if we dothis, thei n g r a i n e dp r a c t i c ewould notb e c o m epermanent”.

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negativelyimpactedonthequalityofwrittenexpression,thoughitisusedexcessively, it is not responsible forthe decline in writing skills for ourpeople. I urge you tomanage youraddiction”.

Itwasnevera truercaseofnotenvyingthejudgestheirdecision,overwhowonthisheateddebate,butintheendtherecouldonlybetheone,andthatonewasnoneotherthantheAlexandra Secondary School, whokepttheircoolunderfireandclearlyoutlinedandemphasisedtheirpoints!Notbadforateam,whichwasbornoutofanamalgamationoftheDramaandDebateclubs!

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programmes of study and theawards associated with thosecourseofferings.

Itiswhatmakesprospectivestudents choose one educationalprovider over another competitor.It gives educational certification anamebrandstatuslikeNikeorRalphLauren and makes their individualprogrammes or courses stand outashighquality.

When employers seestudents wearing the distinctivebrandofaprovider,itbecomesthepopularchoiceforrecruitment.Wetrust distinctive brands naturallyandweascribemorevaluetothem.The guy in the Cartier watch, orthe lady driving the Audi Q5, weautomaticallygivemoreworthto.

Programme Accreditationwillseteducationalprovidersapartasqualityintheeyesofthepublic.It is what providers need and theBarbados Accreditation Council isready and well able to give theireducationalofferingsthetruestampof quality through programmeaccreditation.

Qualityeducationalprovisionresults in Quality human capital.Providershaveacriticalroletoplayin thedevelopmentofournation’shumanresourcesinpartnershipwiththeBarbadosAccreditationCouncil.As part of the Barbados HumanResourceDevelopmentStrategyfor2011-2016,aNationalQualificationsFramework(NQF)whichwillbethemajormechanism for transformingeducationandtraininginBarbados.

Bydesign,theNQFwill1:1 Government of Barbados (2010) “Barbados Human Resource Development

Consolidate the delivery ofeducation and training under asingleframework;Makeiteasierforlearnerstoenterthe educational system and tomoveandprogresshorizontallyandverticallywithinit;Improve theeducational quality inBarbados;Expandaccesstolearningandworkopportunitiesforall;andEnablelearnerstodeveloptotheirfullpotential.

The NQF will recognize alllearning attained by Barbadiansregardlessofwhether the learningwasattainedthroughformalmeans(that is, through education andtraining institutions leading toqualifications)ornon-formalmeans(that is, through for example,service organizations, workplacesand activities that complementformal systems of education andmay not lead to qualifications/certification).

It is anticipated that theimplementation of the NationalQualificationsFrameworkwillbringbenefitsthatinclude2:

• making it easier for learners toenter the educational system andtoprogresswithinit;• opening up learning and workopportunitiesforthosewhorequirea second chance to re-enter theStrategy 2011-2016: Developing National, Institutional and Human Capacity for Sustainable Growth”, Media Resource Department, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, Barbados

2 Government of Barbados (2010) “Barbados Human Resource Development Strategy 2011-2016: Developing National, Institutional and Human Capacity for Sustainable Growth”, Media Resource Department, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, Barbados

formaleducationsystemortoentertheworldofwork;• enabling learners to developtheir full potential and therebysupport the social and economicdevelopment of the country as awhole;• promoting access, transferand progression into, within andbetweenprogrammesoflearning;• improving the overall quality oftheeducationalsystem;•promotinglife-longandlife-widelearning;and•enablingemployerstounderstandqualifications which prospectiveemployees might have and wheretheyfitintotheoveralleducationalsystem.

Within the next fewmonths,theBarbadosAccreditationCouncil will be embarking on amajor educational awarenessprogramme to sensitize the publicoftheimpendingNQFandtoseekstakeholderinputintothedesignanddevelopment of thismajor humanresource development initiative inorder to ensure national “buy-in”andsuccessfulimplementation.

Mostimportant,inorderforthequalifications tobe recognizedon the NQF, educational providerswill be required to be registeredand accredited by the BarbadosAccreditationCouncil. TheBarbadosAccreditationCouncilwillseektoenhancequalitytertiary education and training inBarbadosthroughqualityassuranceprocesses such as ProgrammeAccreditation and the NationalQualificationsFramework.

CHAIRMAN’S WORD cont’d

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The Council hosted a 5-dayvisitforMs.TrishaRawlins,ExecutiveDirector of the Accreditation Boardof St. Kitts & Nevis. Ms. Rawlinswas provided with guidance andtechniquesformanaginganexternalqualityassuranceagency.

The Executive Director of the

Accreditation Board of St. Kitts & Nevis Visits the Council

ACCA Recognized as anAwarding Body

On February 8, 2013, theAssociation of Chartered CertifiedAccountants (ACCA) was presenteda Certificate of Recognition as anAwarding Body, by the BarbadosAccreditationCouncil(BAC).

In the photo, Chairman oftheBAC,Ms.YvonneWalkes(secondfrom left), presented Head of theACCA Caribbean, Ms. Brenda Lee-Tang (second from right) with thecertificate. The Executive Director,Ms. Valda Alleyne (left) and QualityAssurance Officer, Mrs. SharonAlleynewerealsopresent.

“Tell Us Your Positive Experience Promotion! AttheBarbadosAccreditationCouncil, excellent customer servicedelivery and customer satisfactionareveryimportanttous.

Ifyouoranyoneyouknowhassoughtanyof theCouncil’s servicessinceitsexistencein2007,weinviteyoutosubmittoushereviafacebookor email at km-ifill@bac.gov.bb yourpositiveexperienceconsistingofnomorethan100words.

Please include:1. The name of the service yourequested2.Yournameandcountryofresidence3.Whentheservicewassuccessfullycompleted4. A photo of yourself with yourStatement/Certificateissued4. Briefly tell us the story of yourexperience

You will be eligible to be

featuredinour2015calendar,wherethe Council will highlight 12 (orpossibly more) lucky customers willtotellustheirpositiveexperience.

Formoreinformation,pleasecontacttheInformationOfficerat

(246)436-7636orviaemailat:

km-ifill@bac.gov.bb

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

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Thisyear’sQualityAssuranceOpen Day was held on November15,2013.Theday’seventsincludedthe exhibition of accredited TheUniversityoftheWestIndiesCaveHillCampus and registered educationalproviders Shab Shan Sadie Schoolof Cosmetology, University of theSouthernCaribbeanandBIMAP;andtertiary educational partner StudentRevolvingLoanFund. A number of students fromneighbouring secondary schoolsvisited, and were treated to freemanicures, give-a-ways and some

insightful information sessionsfacilitated by the Council. Theseinformation sessions includedthe topics of Tips for DetectingFraudulent Qualifications, theRecognition Services of the Council,andtheCertificateofRecognitionofCARICOMSkillsQualification.

For the 10th anniversarycelebrationoftheCouncil,nextyear’sevent is projected to be bigger andand will be held in a more centrallocationtoattractmoremembersofthepublic.

QualityAssurance

OpenDay

StudentsofTheStMichaelSchoollisteningattentivelyduringan

InformationSession

AmemberofthepublicbeingtreatedtoafreemanicurebytheShabShanSadieSchoolofCosmetologyrepresentative

TheRegisteredEducationalProvidersdisplayedtheircourseofferingsandprovidedguidance

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Quality Checks for Student Records

Whether you are a small orlargeprovider,thereareafewqualitycheckswhichshouldbeperformedtoassure theaccuracyofyourstudentrecords. The following steps wouldmake retrieval easier in the futureandreducetimeandanxiety. Before the list of graduandsisdraftedensurethatallprogrammerequirements have been met. Iftherehavebeenprogrammechangesbetweentheperiodofenrolmentandgraduation, ascertain that all of theprogramme requirements in placeat the timeofenrolmenthavebeenmet. This next step may seem

like a no-brainer however, it cannotbe stressed enough. Check thatthe spelling of first, middle, andsurnames isaccurateandconsistentonallofficialdocumentsandrecords.Iftherewasachangeofname,retainarecordoftheoriginalnameaswellas the current name. The spellingof all names on the award shouldbe accurate. Student IdentificationNumbers,gender,anddatesofbirthshouldberecordedaccurately. Official transcripts shouldaccurately record the period ofenrolment,biographicdata,courses,scores,creditsearned,GPA’s,andthename and class of the award. This

informationiscrucialsince it isyourofficialstudentrecordwhichwouldbemade available to other institutionsandagenciesuponrequest. Finally,retainbothelectronicand hard copies of the students’handbook as well as programmerequirements and course outlinesforeachgraduatingclassandadvisegraduatingclassestodothesame. If theafore-mentionedstepsare taken they would promote thespeedyretrievalofrecords,facilitatecoursework evaluation and thetransferofcredit,aswellasimprovetheefficiencyoftheinstitution.

by Violet Worrell, Quality Assurance Officer

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Developmental Workshops cont’d

Workshop participant reporting out

their role and responsibility aseducation and training providers intheinternal(cont’donpage7)qualitymanagement processes of theirrespectiveinstitutions.

The Deputy Chairmanremarked, “By being proactive,and attending this technicalworkshop before you formally applyfor programme approval, yourparticipationwill first of all increaseyour awareness of the programmeapprovalprocessandyourknowledgeof the programme approvalspecifications.Secondly,youwillgainthe competenceneeded to enhancethe quality of your programmeofferings in particular, and improvethequalityofeducationalprovisionsinBarbadosingeneral.Furthermore,you will gain greater insight intothe creative and innovative aspectsof programme design which willundoubtedlyserveyouragencieswellinthefuture.“

Mr Walters applaudedthe providers for displaying theirwillingnesstobecompetitivewithnot

only other local providers, but alsoproviders in the global educationalenvironment who not only makeprogrammesavailable locally,but towhomsomeoftheir(localproviders)graduates may take their awardsat the conclusion of programmesof study for the purpose of gainingaccesstofurtherstudies.

Programme Approval is aqualityassuranceprocessthatensuresthat a programme is appropriatelydesigned and structured; thatadequate resources (human,financial, physical) are available;that the programme is consistentwiththeprovider’smission;andthattheprogrammehasstatedlearningoutcomesandassessmentstrategiesthat are set at an appropriate levelforthequalificationawarded.

In 2014, the Council willcontinue to provide innovativeand developmental workshopsfortertiaryproviders.

One of the break out groupsdiscussing their task with Ms Cherie

Pounder, Quality Assurance Officer of the Council.

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NQF Study Tours

Frontrow:(firstfromleft)Ms.ValdaAlleyne,ExecutiveDirector,BACand(secondfromleft)ExecutiveDirector,MQA,Dr.KaylashAllgoo,O.S.K.Backrow:Ms.ShonelleLynch,ProjectCoordinator(NQF),BAC(thirdfromleft)andMrs.AlitiaQuintyne,QualityAssuranceOfficer,BAC(fourthfromleft)alongwith

othermembersofthestaffoftheMQA

The National QualificationFramework (NQF), which is Pillar 2of the Barbados Human ResourceDevelopment Strategy 2011-2016, has been placed under theresponsibilityoftheCouncil. In order to prepare for thismajorinitiative,theExecutiveDirector,Quality Assurance Officers and the

Project Coordinator (NQF) visitedMauritius, Scotland and England.The aim of the tours was to learndirectly from the authorities in therespectivecountriesofbestpracticesin the design, development andimplementationoftheirNQFsandalsoanypitfallstoavoid.TheCouncilalsosigned a Memorandum of Technical

Cooperation and Partnership withtheMauritiusQualificationsAuthoritythat will provide for the sharingof information, technical expertiseand hosting of staff attachments,amongstotherbenefits.

Fromleft:HelenZhang,SQA;MarkHill,SQA;CheriePounderandTamaraGibson,QualityAssuranceOfficersofBAC;AileenMuir,SAQ;andrepresentativesfromScottishCreditandQualificationExecutive

#123A&B,“PlazaCentrale”,RoebuckStreet,BridgetownBB11080,BARBADOS

Tel:(246)436-9094Fax:(246)429-9233Email:info@bac.gov.bbWebsite:www.bac.gov.bb

CheckusonFacebookandYoutube@BdosAccredCouncil

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www.facebook.com/barbados-accreditation-

council

(@BACBarbados) (BdosAccredCouncil)