SVGCC, Holland College sign MOU

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVCGG) and Holland College was signed last week at the conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vice-president Mike O’Grady signed on behalf of Holland College on Prince Edward Island, Canada, while director Nigel Scott signed on behalf of the SVGCC.

The visit by the foreign team, led by O’Grady, comes as a result of a visit to Prince Edward Island late last year by an official delegation, led by Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar, which also included Lou-Anne Gilchrist, Ambassador to the United States and High Commissioner Designate to Canada and Consul General in Toronto Fitzgerald Huggins.

Scott said collaboration is integral to the college, as it recognizes that as a small institution in a small country, it can do very little without collaboration.

“And so this memorandum of understanding today will set out the framework for collaboration in programmes, student and faculty exchanges, possibly research as well, between the two colleges,” he explained.

He said that the MOU signing marks another opportunity for two Commonwealth nations to forge this collaboration and strengthen the bond that existed between Canada and SVG.

Scott believes that the relationship will be of benefit to Vincentians, as this country seeks to internationalize its work force.

Holland College has 2,500 students and similar programmes to that of the SVGCC, and according to O’Grady, “we can quickly conclude that we are more alike than we are different.”

He said he looks forward to putting into action the words associated with the MOU, and will identify areas of priority on which work can be done immediately.

Minister of Education St Clair Jimmy Prince thanked the representatives for assisting this country with training and deepening and strengthening the education revolution here.

Briefly outlining the story behind the MOU, Prince said the official visit to Prince Edward Island by the delegation was in keeping with the economic and social development plan for this country and to explore employment opportunities for Vincentians.

This mission he said, proved to be fruitful, as benefits are coming to fruition.

“With the appointment of a new non-resident High Commissioner designate to Canada, Ms Gilchrist, we look to deepen the existing ties and forge new relationships with the appointment of honorary councils in various provinces,” he said.

The focus of the collaboration between the two colleges will be maritime training.

“We are a maritime country and this should come naturally to us, but we need the technology, we need the training; the MOU sets the foundation for exchange among other areas,” said Prince.