BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, May 2023 – Students and academic staff of the Barbados Community College should be presented with new learning opportunities in Canada in the not-too-distant future. This after the Eyrie, Howell’s Cross Road, St Michael institution signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Academy Canada recently, outlining several areas in which the two will collaborate. However, officials from both campuses stressed the relationship will not be one-sided as opportunities for student and staff exchanges in both directions are being discussed.
Academy Canada’s Vice President, Academic and Chief Operating Officer, Lisa Lovelady said the transfer of credits for advanced standing and articulation agreements between the two institutions are high on the agenda. “We’re going to explore opportunities for developing curriculum together to facilitate staff and faculty training. And with technology these days using so much video conferencing and online learning, there are many opportunities to leverage what each school already does and see if we can complement each other and have a better trained staff altogether”, Ms. Lovelady explained.
She said a key step is seeing where the different programme areas align and apply them in a manner that is mutually beneficial. “We’re going to look for opportunities for student and faculty exchanges as part of a larger internationalization plan. So, we’re looking for funding opportunities that arise, and they do arise, so that students can spend some time in Canada, or vice versa, spend some time in Barbados”.
Meantime, Registrar of the BCC, Roger Worrell said the signing was a formalization of ongoing discussions with the Newfoundland and Labrador school. He said the BCC is pleased to have these types of relationships with Canadian educational institutions, which allow the College’s students to move seamlessly.
According to the senior official, items like the planned articulation agreement and credit transfers stand both institutions in good stead. “I think that would benefit our students because obviously, it would expose them to different areas in terms of technologies and teaching methodologies. So, all in all, the agreement is beneficial to our students, and the possibility of staff exchanges will help with capacity building in relation to the staff complement.
Mr. Worrell explained that specific subject areas in which the two facilities will collaborate have been identified in preliminary discussions, however, the final list will be included in an articulation agreement to ensure the smooth movement of students.