The Principals of the Barbados Community College (BCC), Ms Annette Alleyne and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI), Mr Ian Drakes signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of Academic Cooperation for the two (2) institutions to extend their collaboration. The institutions have contributed significantly to the development of Barbados and BCC and SJPI are now embarking on a journey where they will join forces to create an even bigger impact in the field of education. The signing ceremony took place at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology on Thursday 16 July 2020.
The MOU formalises a relationship and partnership between BCC and SJPI which has been in existence for several years. Collaboration between the institutions has existed in the areas of Agriculture, Land Surveying and Fashion. In recent years, BCC and SJPI partnered to deliver training to industry in the area of solar photovoltaic through the Competency-Based Training Fund under the Skills for the Future project. Both principals recognise that there needs to be a greater streamlining of processes and offerings to allow the institutions to allocate resources strategically.
The major thrust of the MOU is to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the BCC and SJPI to now enact measures that allow:
- Greater ease of transitioning of students between the institutions;
- Sharing of resources, skills and expertise;
- More strategic marketing of courses and programmes.
Through the cooperation of the Boards of Management and the visionary direction of the two organisations, the MOU provides a platform for BCC and SJPI to better negotiate the synergy between these two (2) formidable institutions of learning and training.
Attending the signing ceremony seated: Mr Ian Drakes, Principal – SJPI and Ms Annette Alleyne, Principal – BCC. From left to right: Ms Brenda Osbourne, Deputy Principal (Academic, Ag.) SJPI; Ms Audrey Jones-Drayton, Deputy Principal (Administration, Ag.) – SJPI; Ms Hyacinth Collymore, Registrar – SJPI; Dr Cheryl Weekes, Deputy Principal – BCC; and Dr Caroline Woodroffe-Holder, Assistant Registrar, Student Affairs (Ag.) – BCC.