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Industry Linkages ForumEducators and Employers MeetEmployers, employer associations, TVET Council members, college administrators, and national training agency executives met for two days in March 2014 to identify ways in which educators and employers could work more closely together to ensure that graduates of TVET programs are job ready.

Industry presenters included Mr. Errol Hodge, Executive Maintenance Manager at LIAT; Mr. Guillermo Escaraga, Product Support Manager at Macorp Guyana; Mr. Peter Benny, Human Resources Director for Guyana Goldfields; Ms. Janelle Phillips, PowerGen. Mr. Wayne Wesley, Chair of CANTA, Ms. Patricia McPherson, CARICOM

Secretariat representative to CANTA, and Mr. Robert Gregory, Regional TVET Strategy consultant, participated in an educators panel. Mr. Reynold John, General Manager of the Metal Industries Company (a training agency in Trinidad and Tobago) outlined MIC’s approach to meeting industry’s need for prior learning assessment and recognition. Mr. Guy Ellis, Dean of Technology at Vancouver Island University, outlined approaches taken there to maintain strong engagement with employers.

Occupational standards are a key area of collaboration for educators, national training agencies, and employers. Ms. Elenor Rampersad-David,

CANTA Technical Officer, outlined the standards development process for the Caribbean Vocational Qualification and participants provided feedback on the current standards process and format. Mr. Philip Mondor, Senior Vice President at the Canadian Tourism HR Council, outlined new approaches to standards development being used in the hospitality sector in Canada.

The session highlighted the need to promote awareness of the CVQ, to build stronger linkages between training providers and the workplace, and to have an ongoing, frank and robust dialogue on this topic.

Mr. Guillermo Escaraga, Product Support Manager, Macorp Guyana, addresses the Forum

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In January and February, a team comprising two students and one professor from Durham College in Ontario, Canada, visited four Caribbean countries to document some of the industry linkages established in the C-EFE institutional partnership projects.

Mr. Christopher Gauvreau, a second year student in the Digital Video Production program was responsible for the videography and editing; Ms. Manula Selvarajah, a third year Journalism - Print and Broadcast student was responsible for the script and narration; and Ms. Danielle Harder, a journalism professor, was their supervisor and the video producer. Accompanied by ACCC staff, they travelled to the National Tool and Engineering Institute in Kingston, Jamaica; to LIAT and the Antigua State College in Antigua; to Williams Industries and Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic in Barbados; and to the Government

Technical Institute, the Linden Technical Institute, Macorp, and Guyana Goldfields in Guyana.

The field team worked with students back in Oshawa, Ontario to make “Project Caribbean” a learning experience for the whole Journalism class. The field team posted to a blog about their experiences, developed pieces for the local Oshawa press, and did live interviews on Durham’s visual radio program.

Back in Canada, the team worked on the script and video production, while completing all of their other work and studies. You can see the resulting product here. The video was shared at the end of April with the C-EFE Program Steering Committee and it was so good that C-EFE had a request to show it to the Ministers of Labour at the May meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development convened by CARICOM this May. Well done Durham team!

Durham College team producesC-EFE Video on industry linkages

“Our goal is to work with the Antigua State College to ensure the best training possible and set students on a career path that will allow them to work here at home, within the region or anywhere in the world. In so doing, the program will produce skilled Aircraft Maintenance Technicians to support LIAT’s needs in the future.”Mr. Errol Hodge, Executive Maintenance Manager, LIAT

Below: The Industry Linkages Forum was opened by the Honourable Senator Fazal Karim, Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, Trinidad and Tobago, and by His Excellency, Mr. Gerard Latulippe, High Commissioner for Canada to Trinidad

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ACCC CEO in the regionACCC CEO Denyse Amyot was in

the Caribbean twice this year, once to deliver a keynote presentation at the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica annual conference in January, and once to present at the Skills for the Future conference in Barbados. These were both good opportunities to strengthen the linkages between Caribbean institutes and ACCC members.

ACCC changing its nameOn June 1, ACCC will be changing

its name from the Association of Canadian Community Colleges to Colleges and Institutes Canada (CIC). The new name better reflects our membership and promotes more consistency in our French and English branding. The new name and logo will be officially presented at our annual conference, May 25 - 27, in Ottawa.

New CANTA Executive elected at December 2013 meetingAt their December meeting, held in Dominica, CANTA held elections. The new executive officers: Chair, Dr. Wayne Wesley (Jamaica); Vice Chair, Mr. Henderson Eastmond (Barbados); Treasurer, Ms. Nicole Manning (Jamaica); Secretary, Ms. Estellita Rene (St. Lucia). Ms. Wendy McClean (Barbados) was re-elected as Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee and Mr. Fritzroy Wilkin (St. Kitts and Nevis) was elected Chair of the Occupational Standards Committee.

The work of CANTA will be supported by two new CANTA Technical Officers who assumed their posts on February 1, 2014. Ms. Elenor Rampersad-David will be working on the occupational standards file and Mr. Orlando Hewitt will be working on the quality assurance file. Both officers presented their work plans at the CANTA meeting held in April 2014 in Runaway Bay, Jamaica. In addition to actioning the decisions of the CANTA committees, the officers will be assisting National Training Agencies working to establish the infrastructure required to award the CVQ.

C-EFE thanks the outgoing executive members for all of their support over the past three years.

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Above: Durham’s team shooting the C-EFE video at LIAT’s repair facility in Antigua.

Below: Outgoing CANTA Chair, Mrs. Elphege Joseph congratulates incoming CANTA Chair, Dr. Wayne Wesley

At the Skills for the Future ConferenceACCC CEO Ms. Denyse Amyot, left, and Minister-Counsellor (Development) Ms. Louise Clement, Barbados Canadian Commission at the Skills for the Future Conference.

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In February, a team of facilitators from Douglas College, HEART Trust, the National Training Agency of Trinidad and Tobago (NTATT), YTEPP (Youth Training and Employment Partnership Program, Trinidad), and the National Skills Development Centre (NSDC, St. Lucia) presented a Practitioner’s Guide and Career Development Model and Resource Kit to over 50 participants drawn from C-EFE’s institutional partnerships and the CANTA network at a workshop in St. Lucia.

With Douglas College from British Columbia, Canada, managing the process, the team refined the model and reviewed the tools at a working meeting in November. The consultants from Douglas then revised the

toolkit, formatted it and shared it with the Caribbean team for their final input. The model has 4 parts, and there are numerous worksheets, weblinks, and activities that can be used in each stage of career development.

At the workshop, the facilitators worked in pairs to walk participants through the use of a number of selected tools, discussed ethics for career counsellors, and facilitated discussions of how to use the tools with different clients. Each participant received an electronic copy of the kit to allow duplication and use in their own organizations.

The items in the extensive kit are available free for use in the region, and organizations are encouraged to brand and adapt the tools to meet their needs. You can download the resources from the ACCC Groupsite Portal, in the C-EFE SubGroup Filing Cabinet.

“Overall it is a valuable instrument which could create a high level of awareness of career development model. The tools can be helpful at every level of my organization, particularly at the student level.”Workshop participant

Career Counseling Toolkit now available for use in region

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Facilitation team From left to right:Pam Tetarenko, Douglas CollegeNatasha Carlow, YTEPPMonifa Ayinde, Douglas CollegeEleazar Noel, NTATTErica Williams, HEARTNathalie Charles, NSDCStephen Superville, NTATTVirgie D’auvergne, MOE St. LuciaCarrline Giscombe-Parkes, HEARTAvanelle Baird, YTEPPBarry Williams, NSDCShannan Laing, Douglas College

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Gender and TVET Groupmeeting

The Gender and TVET Working Group came together in St. Vincent at the end of March. Mr. Dwight Lewis from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sector Skills Development Agency launched discussions with a provocative presentation about the future of TVET in the region.

The group provided some valuable input from a gender perspective to a number of policies and training manuals under

development by CANTA. In addition, they proposed some approaches to working with CANTA on the development of gender policies for national training agencies.

The group has been working between face to face meetings on the outline for a publication that would result from research into gender dimensions of TVET in the region. At the session in St. Vincent, the group refined the outline and explored presenting the findings in various media. C-EFE will be exploring funding options for the development of the publication.

TVET Marketing Strategyregional FB page liveThe Belize Employment Training and Education Services department supported a second pilot of the marketing materials developed by Kaizen Business Solutions to promote TVET to youth in the region.

This pilot used the slogan “TVET -- What are you waiting for?” emblazoned on bright green t-shirts and on banners and posters. TVET staff were guests on morning radio and television programs to promote

awareness of the Institutions for TVET and the programs available in each region. Students from the ITVETs performed community service throughout the week -- beautifying parks, cooking food for the elderly, and talking about their programs.

On the final day of the campaign, the Belize City ITVET held an open house at which guests could receive free services such as an oil change in the automotive workshop. The cosmetology lab was a popular destination that day as clients lined up for nail, hair or facial treatments.

The highlight of the week took place on Friday when graduates of ITVET cooking programs competed in a “cook - off” to win a tablet and bragging rights. Contestants added their own ingredients to those assigned and prepared both an appetizer and entree for three judges with discriminating tastes. After two “TVET Week” pilots, it

was clear that focused campaigns, contests, and local media coverage all bring attention to TVET. The next step in the marketing strategy is to promote TVET regionally through social and conventional media. The campaign will be running from May 1 to June 30. National training agencies and

TVET training institutions are encouraged to “like” and “share” the page, and to send TVET

news, photos, and links they would wish promoted to the consultants at arice@kaizenbarbados.com.

The face book page can be found here.

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Gender and TVET Working GroupThe gender group, joined by representatives from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College and Sector Skills Development Agency

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In November, the National Tool and Engineering Institute in Kingston, Jamaica, in partnership with St. Lawrence College and C-EFE, hosted a Green Career Fair for young people considering their future career paths. Participants visited booths set up by local “green” companies and competed to build the best solar oven to bake some tasty cookies. Below: Dr. Wayne Wesley (5th from right), HEART Trust Executive Director, His Excellency Mr. Robert Ready, High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica (3rd from right), and Dr. Andrew Isaacs, who spearheaded the renewable energy program at NTEI (2nd from right) were all in attendance to promote green careers.

Green Career Fairat NTEI, Jamaica

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Working with consultants from Le Groupe-conseil Baastel, the C-EFE team developed a monitoring framework and a set of survey and document review tools to assess the progress of the program towards the targets established in the Performance Management Framework. Thanks go out to all of our program stakeholders who responded to our requests to complete surveys for both the baseline data gathering exercise and the reporting on where we are at the end of the third year of implementation. The analysis of the data collected shows that some outputs are complete; stakeholders are satisfied with the support from the C-EFE, and that it will take some time to reach all of the planned targets.

Thanks also go to our team of administrative assistants in the Caribbean who did the bulk of the work to gather the information. In preparation for that task, they travelled to Ottawa in January’s deepest winter weather for training from Baastel. While in Canada, they were also oriented to our national sport when they cheered for the home team at an ice hockey game between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens.

Left to right: Rhonda Garcia (Trinidad), Nikiesha Sewell-Lewis (Jamaica), Claudia Cole-Holder (Guyana)

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All 16 institutional partnerships in the C-EFE program are now up and running. Partners met in Grenada in early December for an orientation and began working together on their project implementation plans.

In March and April of 2014, the plans were approved by C-EFE National Programming Committees and contracts signed. Work is already underway, with planning meetings taking place in the Caribbean institutions throughout April and May.

Final six institutional partnerships launched

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At the partnership orientation session. Left, Suriname team; Above, Barbados team. Below, Trinidad team.

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Partners working together

Top left: University of Belize visits a cold and snowy Alberta to develop counselling capacity. Bottom left: Project Advisory Committee meeting at St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College. Top right: Sault College President Ron Common at partner institution, Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic in Barbados.Middle right: Seneca and Sir Arthur Lewis College at Project Advisory Committee meeting in St. LuciaBottom right: COVAB and Selkirk College launch their partnership in Suriname

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C-EFE Thanks Mrs. Elphege Josephas she retiresThe C-EFE team congratulates Mrs. Elphege Joseph, CEO of the National Training Agency of Trinidad and Tobago, and Immediate Past Chair of CANTA on her retirement.

Mrs. Joseph gave generously of her knowledge, time, and energy to the C-EFE as it was designed and implemented. She brought a strong commitment to the development of the region and a strong analytical mind to the work she did with us. We

will certainly miss her insight and her good humour as the project moves forward.

We want to thank her for all of her contributions and for her attendance at all of our key events to date.

Thanks also to Mr. Lincoln Morgan, CEO of the Grenada NTA and outgoing Vice Chair of CANTA, who graciously filled in for Mrs. Joseph at those C-EFE activities that she could not attend.

CANTA Quality AssuranceCommittee WorkshopIn February, representatives from the 12 countries working with C-EFE, CXC, and consultants from Dunn, Pierre, Barnett and Associates met in Barbados for a 3-day workshop focused on harmonizing approaches to quality assurance for the CVQ.

Participants reviewed documents and provided input on the core content of a number of regional tools that are now being developed or refined by Mr. Orlando Hewitt, the CANTA Technical Officer working with the Committee. Outputs from the session will include updated CANTA QA Guidelines; a Quality Auditor Training Toolkit, a CBET Training Tool Kit; a CBET for Managers Training package and a train the trainer workshop to introduce it; and sample assessment and record keeping templates to enhance consistency across the region.

The group reached decisions on a number of topics, including the use of rating scales in CBET assessment (only for written work), the range of assessment tools appropriate for use in assessing competency, and strategies for moderation of assessment.

Participants benefitted as well from a presentation of the latest work on the Regional Qualification

Framework and the questions it raises for the CVQ level structure. Discussions about awarding credit hours to the CVQ followed as well, in recognition of the importance of providing laddering opportunities for CVQ holders.

The workshop evaluations were positive but also highlighted the need to continue to work on consistent approaches to enhance the integrity of the CVQ. C-EFE will continue to support this work in the coming year.

Recommendations from this working session were presented to

CANTA at their April meeting, and all recommendations were endorsed.

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“The collaboration amongst the team was great and must continue.”Workshop participant

Below: Quality Assurance Committee Chair Ms. Wendy McClean thanks outgoing CANTA Treasurer Ms. Pauline Whiteman

CANTA Tribute to Mrs. Elphege JosephAt the April 2014 CANTA meeting, a banquet was held to recognize the contributions of the outgoing CANTA executive members.

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Prepared with the financial support of the Government of Canada

C-EFE Year 4 Workplan PresentedThe Program Steering Committee for C-EFE tentatively approved the Year 4 Workplan at a meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, April 29 and 30. Below, Committee Co-Chairs Marcella Thompson (DFATD) and Patricia McPherson (CARICOM) sign the paperwork.

Access C-EFE Documents and Calendar at any timeC-EFE has set up a portal for sharing information about C-EFE activities. All stakeholders are encouraged to join the site and to submit program documents, put your partnership events on the calendar, and chat with one another. To access the site, go here and submit a request to join. Once you get an approval e-mail, join the C-EFE SubGroup and start looking around.

You can keep up to date with us by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter too!

C-EFE wishes Ms. Marie Legault, Head of Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada to Jamaica, good luck on her next posting and thanks her for the support she provided while in the region. Marie is shown above with Minister of Education for Belize, Mr. Patrick Faber.

C-EFE Teamupdates

C-EFE welcomes Ms. Pat Bidart to the team as the Senior Technical Advisor for Jamaica and Belize. Pat started working with us in January.

C-EFE sends best wishes for her future endeavours to Lucie Brien, Senior Program Officer, who has moved on from ACCC.

C-EFE joins the staff of Excelsior College, Jamaica, and the membership of ACTI in mourning the loss of Principal, Dr. Nadine Scott. Dr. Scott was a member of the ACTI Leadership Faculty and the C-EFE Gender and TVET Group

C-EFE ContactsPat Bidart (Jamaica): pbidart@accc.caLinda Cooke (Trinidad): lcooke@accc.caRhonda Garcia (Trinidad): rgarcia@cefe-accc.comClaudia Cole-Holder (Guyana): cholder@cefe-accc.comCraig Morrison (Guyana): cmorrison@accc.caNikki Sewell-Lewis (Jamaica): nsewell@cefe-accc.comSusan Sproule (Ottawa): ssproule@accc.caElsa Sumido (Ottawa): esumido@accc.caWebsite: http://www.accc.ca/xp/index.php/en/programs/int-partnerships/efe-intro/efe-caricom