Minister of Education and the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) officials tour Valencia College in Orlando. Shown from left to right are: Andrew Gape, Acting BTVI Associate Vice President of Finance; Mike Kepner, Valencia’s Director of Advanced Manufacturing Program; the Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, Minister of Education; Dr. Robert W. Robertson, BTVI Presient; Lisa Eli, Valencia’s Assistant Vice President, Global and Continuing Education; and Talia Popovski, Valencia’s Senior Director, International Student Recruitment and Global Engagement. (Photo: Valencia College)NASSAU, Bahamas — The Hon. Jeffrey Lloyd, Minister of Education, recently led officials of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) on a fact-finding mission to Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, as BTVI prepares to rebuild its facilities following Hurricane Dorian, which demolished BTVI’s Abaco Centre and extensively damaged its Freeport campus.
Minister Lloyd was accompanied by BTVI President Dr. Robert W. Robertson and Acting Associate Vice President of Finance Andrew Gape.
With funding from the Caribbean Development Bank and the government, BTVI officials are planning to rebuild and develop training programs so they can prepare the Bahamian workforce to meet the demand for skilled workers who in turn would help rebuild the islands’ facilities.
The delegation visited the accelerated trades centre and the media and communication labs. They also met with Valencia President Dr. Sandy Shugart.
Describing the visit was worthwhile, Minister Lloyd said, “There is a need for accelerated and industry-certified trades training in The Bahamas and the Valencia model is certainly worth our consideration, particularly as we look to rebuild after Hurricane Dorian.”
BTVI and Valencia College are working on an articulation agreement that is designed to allow BTVI’s Business and Information Technology Associate of Applied Science degree graduates to matriculate with credits into Valencia College’s Bachelor’s degree programs. It is anticipated that this agreement should begin as early as August 2020.
The visit to the community college was an opportunity to learn more about each other’s institutions and discuss how they could further develop opportunities for teaching and learning. This is in addition to learning best practices in layout and design of types of spaces on the college grounds, building and equipping workshops, labs and classrooms.
Dr. Robertson noted that there will be further discussions with Valencia College to quickly assess options to introduce an accelerated trades training option in an effort to address the skills gap in The Bahamas.
