NCTI and Trinidad entity team up to offer industry-standard courses

The National Center for Technical and Industrial Innovation (NCTI) has partnered with Trinidad’s Advanced Solution Technical Institute (ASTI) to introduce industry-standard courses locally, including fibre optic training and a National Robotics Programme.

A conference was held on Thursday, January 23, 2025, when it was announced that the initiative would aim to expand course offerings and provide students with advanced technologies to interact with and participate in, such as auto-mobile simulation.

Representing ASTI was its Director and CEO, Ancil Peters, who highlighted that the partnership will offer in-depth training in fibre optics, as the institute is responsible for training all Digicel workers.

He emphasised the importance of equipping St Vincent and the Grenadines with the ability to handle fibre optic issues locally, “we will ensure that St Vincent and all the young people and all the contractors will be fully equipped [and] be able to understand fibre, so when it goes down, St Vincent itself can take care of their fibre work, and the money would stay here,”  Peters explained.

This partnership will address the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TechVoc) sector’s challenge in sourcing vehicles and equipment for students, by providing a simulated environment with challenging vehicles- including hybrids and electric vehicles, and car parts associated with each brand. TechVoc would prepare students for some of the highest industry certificates.

NCTI’s Chief Executive Officer, Petrus Gumbs, expressed gratitude for the partnership, anticipating it as a significant step in equipping people with high-value certificates.

He stressed the importance of obtaining certificates for the job market, citing an example of a student who left NCTI’s Quick Books training early due to prior knowledge, but was later convinced of the certificate’s value in validating her skills to future employers.

Peters also shared an example of a university student with a degree in Human Resources, but lacking practical experience.
“So what we do, we take that university student, bring them in a simulated environment, and all we do is train them how to operate in an office- what they should look for. We not teaching them nothing else.”

Additionally, he called for an evolution in teaching methods to maintain student interest and reduce dropout rates.

The conference was attended by key figures, including Minister of Finance and Technology, Camillo Gonsalves; Minister of Education, Curtis King; NCTI Directors Andrea Gaymes, Mark Cyrus, and Jerrol Thompson, who is also NCTI’s founder, all of whom delivered brief remarks.