New opportunities for Vincentian students at Humber College

An articulation agreement was signed between Canada-based Humber College and the St Vincent and the Grenadines

Community College (SVGCC) last Monday, February 5.

And, as a result, holders of Associate Degrees in Business Studies from the SVGCC who choose to further their studies at Humber, will move straight into year two of Humber’s Bachelor of Commerce programmes in: Hospitality and Tourism Management; Marketing; Supply Chain Management; Fashion Management; Management Studies; or Digital Business Management.

Andrew ‘Drew’ Ness, dean of International at Humber, speaking during the signing ceremony, said that this is a tremendous opportunity for local students.

He said that the negotiations took a while, but it is important to recognize that this was the case, as Humber was making sure that the subjects have the right academic fit.

“We had a significant number of people on campus looking at the SVGCC curriculum, looking at teaching, so the signature is a reflection of our assurance externally of the quality that you are bringing in your classrooms,” said Ness.

Commenting, director of the SVGCC Nigel Scott said that this country has a long history with Humber and while the signing or articulation agreement was a long road, it is a great achievement.

“The articulation agreement is referred to as a one-year block transfer and what that means is that students who complete the associate degree in business studies offered by the SVGCC with at least a 65 per cent average would be able to articulate into several different Bachelors’ programmes at Humber, taking a year off their programme,” said Scott.

He noted that Humber has done the mapping process and worked out the courses that students are currently doing and as a result, students will be allowed credit exemptions in their Bachelors’ programmes.

“This is a big deal. I don’t know if you realize that,” said Scott, who stressed that the SVGCC takes very seriously its mandate to prepare students for the world of work and the world of further study.

He said that the SVGCC has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with another Canadian institution and is looking at more.

The signing ceremony saw present, among others, Joseph Payne of the Ministry of Education, deputy director of the SVGCC Eula Adams, associate director International Recruitment and Market Development for the Americas Amanda Koski and local Humber alumni Keith Boyea, Wendy Minors and Chad Minors.

Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning was established in 1967 and is a global leader in polytechnic education. Located in Toronto, Canada, Humber combines in-depth theoretical learning and hands-on experience with applied research and extensive industry connections.