The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) will be advancing technologically, with the establishment, this month of an E-College at the institution.{{more}}

This was announced by Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves during the Budget Address in the House of Parliament on Monday, January 9, 2012.

Gonsalves, in his address, stated that the SVGCC will be embracing this bold new initiative which will enable the college to develop its capacity to integrate many new technologies into the teaching and learning process.

Gonsalves added that the E-college initiative will initially provide online support for face to face students and will in the next expansionary step enable the College to offer programmes to students via distance, and will give access to persons in the North Leeward, North Windward and the Grenadines who may not be physically able to attend the four campuses.

According to Gonsalves, the Division will be staffed by a Head of E-college, an Information Management Specialist, the Information Technology Administrator, and the IT Laboratory Technicians.

Further, discussing the advancement of the college, Gonsalves stated that the college is currently undergoing a transformation process that will enhance the delivery of its programmes to its students. The physical expansion of the college is a component of the $44.5 million 9th European Development Fund/ ICT Project. The college component is approximately $30 million.

The transformation, Gonsalves said, will include improved Natural Sciences and Modern Language Laboratories, Visual Arts Studio, e-learning and Video Conferencing Facilities, Students’ Union Building with Cafeteria, a new teachers’ block and sports facilities. The new buildings, Gonsalves indicated, are scheduled for completion in 2012 and renovations to the existing building will be completed in June 2013.

In addition, Gonsalves stated that the government is also proposing a project for CDB financing for a facility to upgrade the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Division. This he said will enable the Division to deliver programmes for the Caribbean Vocational Qualification at levels one to three.

He further stated that the SVGCC has applied to EDEXCEL, Europe’s leading TVET certification body, to become a Business and Technology Education Centre (BTEC). This will enable TVET students to achieve a certification that will be equivalent to Advanced levels and will be highly recognized internationally.

The certification will be done alongside the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQs) and National Vocational Qualification (NVQs), enabling the students to have national, regional and international certification in TVET when they graduate from the TVET Division.

Gonsalves also stated that the government intends to fashion a protocol between the SVGCC and the Police Training School to enable new recruits and existing officers to pursue a range of Associate degrees, while there is a similar protocol in the offing between the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College and the soon to be opened Agricultural Training Institute. (OS)