CANQATE Newsletter October 2016

1. 13th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Georgetown, Guyana
October 4‐7, 2016
IN THIS ISSUE
CANQATE Conference 2016 1
Message from the President 1
12th Annual CANQATE Conference 3
Introducing “Quality Higher
Educa on in the Caribbean”
4
News and Happenings 5
About CANQATE 12
CANQATE CONFERENCE 2016
October 2016
On October 9, 2015 I accepted the
awesome responsibility to lead a
regional associa on that has the
tremendous responsibility of improving the
quality of ter ary level educa on
throughout the Caribbean by highligh ng
and enhancing the role and prac ce of quality assurance. Since then, my
life has become exponen ally more meaningful and driven with purpose.
This challenge has brought me into contact with a number of truly inspiring
individuals who have been working in the background to build CANQATE
into a truly dynamic and vibrant associa on with a clear mandate and
vision. Over the past few months I have met and interacted more
frequently than ever before with almost all levels of stakeholders that make
up the ter ary sector in the regional and interna onally. Con nued on page 2
MESSAGE FROM
THE PRESIDENT
Ronald Brunton, PhD
The 13th Annual Conference will take place in Guyana at the ultra‐
modern Arthur Chung Conven on Centre, located at Liliendaal, adjacent to
the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters. The Conference will be proudly
hosted by the Na onal Accredita on Council‐Guyana in collabora on with
the Ministry of Educa on, Guyana, from 4‐7, October 2016. The
Conference coincides with Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.
This year’s theme, Sustaining a Culture of Quality Assurance in Ter ary
Educa on for Na onal and Regional Development, will address delegates
on the importance of quality assurance to the development of the
Caribbean region. The three‐day interac ve conference promises quality
assurance professionals, educators, policy makers, representa ves from
regional and extra‐regional bodies, the opportunity to share experiences
and discuss strategies to build the capacity of countries to develop a quality
assurance culture in the Caribbean.
On October 4, the preconference session will include a workshop facilitated
by Dr L. Wilson, Alabama State University, USA and a seminar on the
Caribbean’s HRD Strategy presented by Dr Eduardo Ali, CARICOM
Secretariat. Con nued on page 2

2. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Con nued from page 1
Each has dis nct challenges, circumstances, and perspec ves on
ter ary educa on and quality assurance.
To iden fy a few, I have been working with professionals at
budding quality assurance agencies, strapped for cash and
dependent on poli cal will in their jurisdic on to move things
along. I have also been interac ng with professionals at more
established external quality assurance agencies (EQAAs) in the
region, trying to keep up with developments in their jurisdic on
as they too struggle with limited resources and the desire to
remain autonomous, relevant and at the forefront in a changing
sector. I have also had the pleasure of collabora ng with
quality assurance professionals at ter ary level ins tu ons, as
they strive to maintain quality in the face of growing
compe on, dwindling resources, growing student demands
and moun ng requirements to document their work for
upcoming quality assurance reviews.
These issues facing our stakeholders are indeed varied, complex
and interconnected. Solu ons require careful considera on,
objec ve analysis and sustained research. It is important to
recognise that the Caribbean is not isolated from developments
outside the region and we all need to be alert to developments
in quality assurance globally. Of par cular relevance are recent
developments in the United States where the very no on of
quality and the role of accredi ng agencies is being challenged
by the Federal Government. The recent ruling of the Na onal
Advisory Commi ee on Ins tu onal Quality and Integrity
(NACIQI) on June 23, 2016 to effec vely shut down the
Accredi ng Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
(ACICS) should be of great concern to all accredi ng bodies.
The decision of NACIQI, an advisory commi ee of the U.S.
Department of Educa on (USDE), to remove recogni on of
ACISC, was based on the accredi ng agency’s failure to comply
with federal regula ons, its inadequate quality assurance
prac ces and the likelihood that it would not be able to make
necessary changes within a suitable meframe. The fallout
from this decision will mean that some eight hundred US
campuses will now have to scramble to seek accredita on from
another accredi ng agency or lose access to federal student‐aid
dollars.
This should be a wakeup call for the Caribbean, a warning to
quality assurance professionals, ter ary educa on ins tu ons
and especially EQAAs in the Caribbean. Indeed, EQAAs around
the world are under greater scru ny than ever before and are
being asked (even demanded) to review themselves against
established standards. As quality assurance professionals we
need to understand that while such ac ons may ini ally appear
to threaten the very founda on of quality assurance, it actually
represents an opportunity to improve, to be more transparent
and to demonstrate good and best prac ce. Indeed, each
threat is really an opportunity.
For some me now there has been much discussion and
considera on of the role that CANQATE should play in
facilita ng external reviews of EQAAs against the Guidelines for
Good Prac ce (GGP) established by the Interna onal Network
for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Educa on (INQAAHE).
More recently, INQAAHE accepted the proposal to develop a
“Global Quality Assurance Register” that would lend legi macy
to EQAAs that meet established standards. With an eye on
these developments, I believe that it is the opportune moment
for CANQATE to play a more ac ve role in building the capacity
of EQAAs in the Caribbean and strengthening the overall quality
assurance framework in the region.
Along with the support of the new Board of Management, we
have taken up the challenge to advocate for an enhanced role
of quality assurance in ter ary educa on. The Board will
con nue to advocate for the growing number of professionals
across the region by widening access to training and
cer fica on in quality assurance and establishing a code of
prac ce amongst quality assurance professionals. The Board is
also commi ed to building a Quality Culture through new
ini a ves such as the Ethley London Awards that will be
launched at the conference in October.
Over the years, CANQATE has been fortunate to have had a
group of dedicated founding leaders who have built the
Network to what it is now. Many of the founders have served
faithfully for years and we owe them our thanks and gra tude.
The new Board that was elected in October 2015 may not have
all of the history associated with the founding membership, but
its members bring new ideas, enthusiasm and commitment to
quality. I am encouraging members to let us know what you
think are the core issues that CANQATE should focus on. Do the
services of CANQATE need improvement? Are there things that
need to be communicated or resolved? The Board is ready to
listen and to put you to work on the solu ons. So please, let me
know if you wish to be involved in any special projects or to
bring new ideas forward. You can email me at
rbrunton@ac .org. .
I wish to once again thank our colleagues at the St Ki s and
Nevis Accredita on Board for hos ng an excellent CANQATE
Conference last October. Your hard work was appreciated by all
who a ended the Conference. Our next conference scheduled
for October 4‐7 will be hosted by the Na onal Accredita on
Council, Guyana. So mark these dates on your calendar. I look
forward to seeing you there.
CANQATE CONFFERENCE 2016
Con nued from page 1
The Conference itself will feature a mix of plenary and concurrent sessions and a panel discussion with par cipa on by leading
regional educators, and policy makers. Professor Ivor Griffith ‐ Vice Chancellor, University of Guyana, will present a plenary
session on the topic: Civil Society as a Cri cal Stakeholder in Building and Sustaining a Culture of Quality Assurance; Professor Alan
Cobley, UWI, will present on the plenary session: The Role of Na onal and Regional Universi es in Building and Sustaining a
Quality Culture in the Caribbean for Na onal and Regional Development; and Professor Compton Bourne will present on the
plenary topic: The Cost of Building and the Source of Funding a Sustained Quality Assurance Culture.
The 2016 conference will also allow delegates to experience the uniqueness of Guyana’s culture and provide opportuni es for
networking.
CANQATE NEWS | Ocotber 2016 | Page 2

3. 12
ANNUAL CANQATE CONFERENCE
The 12th Annual CANQATE Conference took place on 7‐9
October 2015 in St Ki s and Nevis. The conference was jointly
hosted by the Ministry of Educa on of the Federa on of St Ki s
and Nevis and the Accredita on Board of the Federa on of St
Ki s and Nevis, under the theme Quality Assurance and
Socioeconomic Development in a Global Environment: Regional
and Interna onal Perspec ves. The conference was opened by
the Hon. Ian Liburd, Minister of Energy, depu sing for the
Minister of Educa on who was overseas. The keynote address
was given by Director of Medical Educa on , UWI, Cave Hill,
Professor Michael Branday on the conference theme.
Under the first CANQATE Quality Footprint Ini a ve (QFI),
members of the CANQATE Board of Management hosted two
seminars (one in St Ki s and one in Nevis) on the topic “Why
Accredita on Ma ers” to sensi se secondary and ter ary
educa on students of the importance and benefits of
accredita on. The QFI was held before the start of the pre‐
conference workshop and main conference. The QFI aims to
raise awareness of quality assurance and accredita on issues
and strengthen the quality culture in the country in which the
CANQATE conference is held.
A pre‐conference workshop held on Wednesday, 7 October,
tled, “Assessing and Improving Financial Health of Educa onal
Ins tu ons” was followed by educa onal tours to three of the
six medical educa onal ins tu ons located on the island.
A highlight of the Conference was the recogni on of two
champions of quality assurance in ter ary educa on in keeping
with the mission of CANQATE. Dr Alvin Aston and Professor
Emerita Vivienne Roberts were presented with awards for
their contribu on to the development of quality in ter ary
educa on in region. The presenta ons and other interac ve
sessions of the conference were well received by the 150
delegates who a ended the three‐day event.
In addi on to the learning and networking opportuni es,
delegates were exposed to rich social and cultural ac vi es,
including a recep on hosted by His Excellency Sir S. W. Tapley
Seaton, Governor General of St Ki s and Nevis, and an evening
of culture at historic Brimstone Hill Fortress.
CANQATE NEWS | October 2016 | Page 3

4. Quality Assurance is a burgeoning field in the Caribbean
and Caribbean professionals have contributed
significantly to the movement interna onally. Yet, truth be
told, prac oners in the field in our region lack a resource
book that covers a wide range of topics that is of relevance
to experiences of the Caribbean. I realised this shortly a er
beginning my own journey as a quality assurance officer
serving the Mona Campus of The University of the West
Indies (UWI) in 2007. It was then that the idea for Quality in
Higher Educa on in the Caribbean
was born. So began for me a
journey into discovery and
collegiality which included several
members of CANQATE and many
others who started the journey but
did not managed to make it to the
end. I did not begin to work
seriously on the book un l 2012,
when I finally invited a group of
colleagues to submit chapters and
took on the role of editor/
contributor. I solicited
contribu ons, edited chapters,
solicited reviews, compiled and
shaped the contents and sought out
a publisher. One colleague
describes the process as “herding
cats” and it was certainly a bit like
that at mes. That the University of
the West Indies Press recognised the
value of such a work speaks volumes
to the emerging quality movement
in the region.
Quality in Higher Educa on in the Caribbean is an edited
volume which delivers a unique presenta on of the quality
assurance landscape in higher educa on in the
Commonwealth Caribbean. It celebrates the “coming of
age” of the quality assurance movement by tracing the main
currents of development in internal and external quality
assurance. Pulling together respected prac oners and
leaders from within higher educa on and industry, it
explores fundamental issues rela ng to quality and quality
assurance, such as financing higher educa on, cross‐border
and online educa on, the impact of science and technology,
and quality management systems. At the same me, the
chapters posit prac cal solu ons rooted in theory and
exper se, for example, checklists, frameworks, models, etc.
This makes it immediately useful to the seasoned
prac oner, the beginner‐professional
and the graduate student interested in
managing excellence as a discipline and
a professional path. Contributors are
former Vice Chancellor of the
University of the West Indies, E. Nigel
Harris; UWI colleagues Halima‐Sa’adia
Kassim, John Gedeon, Patrick Anglin,
June Wheatley, Pamela Do n, Sandra
Gi , Haldane
Morris, Joel Warrican, Eduardo Ali
(now at the CARICOM Secretariat)
and Anna‐May Edwards‐Henry;
from the University of Technology,
Jamaica, Kofi Nkrumah‐Young and
G. J. Virgo; from University College
of the Caribbean ‐ Dameon Black,
from The University of Trinidad and
Tobago ‐ Ruby Alleyne, and
independent consultants/
entrepreneurs Paule e Dunn‐Pierre
and Patrick Dallas. Colleagues from
UWI, UCJ, HEART‐NTA, UTC, BAC
served as reviewers.
The collec on explores under‐
represented areas and cu ng‐edge
topics like MOOCs, ethics in quality
assurance, administra ve support
in quality, quality assurance in
TVET, legisla ve frameworks and
strategic planning. The collec on is
divided into three (3) related
sec ons: Part I, Founda ons, deals with select issues in
higher educa on that impact quality assurance, beginning
with teaching and learning. Part II, External Explora ons,
looks at quality‐related ma ers within the external quality
assurance context. Part III, Internal Issues, focuses on higher
educa on ins tu ons and the myriad of issues that impact
on quality assurance at the ins tu onal level. The volume
ends with a chapter projec ng into the future to explore
trends and issues in quality in higher educa on.
My sincere thanks to all those who made this volume
possible. Happy reading.
Dr Anna Kasafi Perkins is the Senior Programme Officer in the
Quality Assurance Unit at The University of the West Indies
Contributed by
Anna Perkins
INTRODUCING “QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE
CARIBBEAN” – A FIRST OF ITS KIND
CANQATE NEWS | October 2016 | Page 4

5. NEWS AND HAPPENINGS
The CANQATE Webinar Series Sharing Best Prac ces for Quality Improvement and Innova on which was
launched in August 2014 con nues into 2016 is receiving overwhelming support from members. The
main aim of the hour long webinars is to expand capacity‐building opportuni es for ter ary ins tu ons and
quality assurance agencies within the region. The first three webinars in the 2016 series were:
When Innova on Meets Control
Presented by Dr Lawrence Ragan, Director of Instruc onal Design and Development,
Con nuing and Distance Educa on/World Campus at Penn State University, on
13 April, 2016.
Leveraging Strategic Partnerships for Establishing Ins tu onal Effec veness and Excellence:
Examina on of Experiences from the Middle East
Presented by Dr Eduardo Ali, former Director for Planning and Ins tu onal Effec veness and
Manager of the Learning and Development Academy at Jumeira University, Dubai, United
Arab Emirates, on 18 May, 2016.
Harmonising Quality Assurance Policies and Prac ce in the Region
Presented by Dr Ronald Brunton, President of CANQATE and the Director of Qualifica ons
and Recogni on at The Accredita on Council of Trinidad and Tobago, on
15 June, 2016.
Did you miss any of these webinars? The presenta ons and recordings are available from CANQATE.
Contact the Secretariat or visit the CANQATE website: h p://canqate.org. Stay tuned for other webinars
in the 2016 Series.
CANQATE WEBINAR SERIES
To enhance the quality of ter ary educa on in the Caribbean through
research, capacity building, advocacy and enabling members to share
informa on and good prac ces
Our Mission
Our Vision A Centre of Excellence in Ter ary Educa on Quality Assurance with a strong
membership base that influences ter ary educa on in the Caribbean
CANQATE NEWS | October 2016 | Page 5

6. NEWS AND HAPPENINGS
The Guyana CANQATE Core Group (GyCCG), which now has
40 members, was launched in February 2016. The highlight of
the ceremony was a feature address by the Chief Planning
Officer of the Ministry of Educa on.
To date, GyCCG has hosted one workshop en tled “Developing
and Assessing Learning Outcomes” and has completed work on
development of a three year strategic plan, along with the
tac cal plan for 2016‐17.
The strategic plan has eight goals, seven of which are included
in the tac cal plan for the first year. In that regard, CANQATE’s
Strategic Plan was the framework. Much is planned to promote
quality assurance, publicise our work, collaborate with like‐
minded organisa ons, set the ground work for the pursuit of
CANQATE's mandate, recruit new members, retain original
members, embark upon the development of an internal QA
system, and promote research.
In pursuit of the realisa on of the plan, a comprehensive public
rela ons programme in the electronic media has been cra ed
and embarked upon. The Core Group also par cipated in the
webinars hosted by CANQATE. In conjunc on with NAC of
Guyana, the Core Group accommodate no less that 30 persons
for each webinar.
In lending support for the hos ng of the 13th Annual CANQATE
Conference, the Core Group has mobilised volunteers for
various administra ve tasks concerning the Conference.
GyCCG looks forward to co‐hos ng and sharing with regional
colleagues at CANQATE Conference 2016 and to the con nued
effort to make the post‐secondary and ter ary educa on in the
Caribbean quality assured.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CORE GROUP
On October 22, 2015, the Trinidad and Tobago CANQATE
Core Group hosted its second seminar for the year, en tled
“From Accredita on to Re‐accredita on: Ins tu onal
Perspec ves.” An interac ve panel discussion led by Dr. Ruby
Alleyne, VP Quality Assurance and Ins tu onal Effec veness,
The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and Immediate
Past President CANQATE; Dr. Gillian Paul, President, College of
Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago,
Rev. Dr. Errol Joseph, VP Academic Affairs, West Indies School
of Theology; and Dr. Pat Butcher, Execu ve Director, Trinidad
and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Ins tute.
Panelists explored aspects of the accredita on process with
the greatest impact on their individual ins tu ons, as well as
best prac ces and pi alls for aspirants. Major points of
consensus emerging from the overall discussion included:
 successful ins tu onal accredita on is a holis c effort,
driven by management, facilitated by the commitment of
adequate resources from ins tu onal boards, and
supported by the efforts of employees;
 following successful ins tu onal accredita on, ins tu ons
should, where necessary, engage in systems re‐design and
monitoring as the new norm, in order to facilitate the
tracking of quality in all areas of opera on; and
 it is cri cal that an appropriate accredita on team leader
with the right combina on of leadership skills is selected to
ensure widespread par cipa on and sustained effort in the
face of what is an exhaus ve exercise.
Finally, panellists proffered sugges ons for ACTT to enhance
na onal accredita on processes, through periodic review and
evalua on of criteria, standards and procedures to ensure
their con nued relevance to the changing demands of a
rapidly evolving ter ary educa on sector.
Par cipants at the seminar: ‘From Accredita on to Re‐Accredita on –
Ins tu onal Perspec ves’, Oct. 22nd
2015, Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School
of Business, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago.
GUYANA CANQATE CORE GROUP
C EQAA C G
CANQATE NEWS | October 2016 | Page 6

7. NEWS AND HAPPENINGS
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD
It has been a very interes ng year for the An gua and
Barbuda Na onal Accredita on Board (ABNAB). ABNAB
con nued to work with providers of ter ary educa on in
An gua and Barbuda encouraging them to improve quality
standards and to seek accredita on. There are, however, some
‘stand out’ ac vi es which must be highlighted.
During the past year, ABNAB conducted sessions with four
educa on providers who approached us for further informa on
on programme accredita on. These sessions detailed the
processes involved in programme accredita on and the
ins tu ons were given step‐by‐step guidelines.
Another ins tu on requested informa on on ins tu onal
accredita on. A power‐point presenta on was made to the
ins tu on, and this was very well received. Plans are under
way for a workshop on preparing for the ins tu onal self‐
study. This workshop will be conducted in the very near future.
During the past year, ABNAB con nued to engage the general
public through regular appearances on public and private radio
sta ons in An gua and Barbuda. In fact, with some sta ons,
the ABNAB team had to make two appearances as the ini al
presenta ons garnered much interest, and the ques ons which
followed could not have been answered in depth within the
me‐slot originally given to us. Appearances on the local
television sta on also generated much interest.
The print media was also targeted as an avenue for spreading
the ABNAB message of quality in ter ary educa on. The
Caribbean Times, a local daily newspaper, now publishes an
ar cle from ABNAB every Friday.
Engaging our stakeholders in the sister island of Barbuda was
also was a big part of ABNAB’s agenda in 2016. The ABNAB
Team was able to travel by air and spend a day in Barbuda. A
special presenta on was made to members of the Barbuda
Council who encouraged ABNAB to con nue its work, and they
pledged the Council’s support.
In the absence of the fi h formers who were preparing for
CSEC examina ons, third and fourth form students of the Sir
Mc Chesney George Secondary School were a given an
opportunity to hear about the work of ABNAB, and to pose
ques ons. The teaching staff of both the primary and the
secondary schools in Barbuda were also invited to take part in
interac ve sessions which provided them with informa on
relevant to their needs.
ABNAB con nued its school outreach programme on island in
2016, and 15 of the 20 government and private schools were
visited. In addi on to providing general informa on about
accredita on and emphasising the need to be aware of diploma
mills and other similar ins tu ons, the ABNAB team included in
its presenta on, a 7‐ step guide to college/university selec on.
The launch of ABNAB’s website was one of the major highlights
this year. The Website was launched on Friday 02 September
2016. We invite you to visit us at www.abnab.edu.ag. ABNAB
now has the ability to market its message more widely since
our reach has widened considerably. The ABNAB Facebook
page and the ABNAB quarterly on‐line newsle er also remain
valuable tools which we will con nue to use.
ABNAB looks forward to con nuing to fulfil its important
mandate of “promo ng an ethos of quality in An gua and
Barbuda” as it collaborates with its local and regional
stakeholders.
CANQATE NEWS | October 2016 | Page 7

8. NEWS AND HAPPENINGS
BARBADOS ACCREDITATION COUNCIL
The Barbados Accredita on Council (BAC) and the
Mauri us Qualifica ons Authority (MQA) have entered into
a Technical Coopera on and Partnership Arrangement to
share knowledge, experiences and exper se for the
implementa on of the Na onal Qualifica ons Framework
(NQF). Mr Robin Phoolchund, Director (Ag),
Mr V. A Ramchurn, Manager, Framework Services and
Mr Ramsamy Nookadee, Accredita on Officer of MQA
spearheaded a scoping mission in prepara on for the
implementa on phase of the NQF, during the week of
April 11 – 15, 2016.
The intensive week involved capacity building of BAC staff
which included examining the BAC’s Quality Assurance (QA)
policies and procedures. During the one day workshop, the
impending implementa on of the NQF was discussed and
the MQA team shared their valuable insights and
experiences on the steps that would be necessary to ensure
a successful outcome for Barbados.
Ter ary educa onal providers and other key stakeholders also
benefi ed from a two‐day workshop held at Almond Bay
Caterers, Has ngs on April 12 and 13. The Hon.
Ronald D. Jones, J.P., M.P., Minister of Educa on, Science,
Technology and Innova on delivered the Feature Address at
the opening of the workshop. Stressing the importance of
providers seeking recogni on, Minister Jones stated “Ter ary
educa onal providers will therefore need to be, at minimum,
registered in order to have their qualifica ons placed on the
NQF which will signal they have met minimum standards to
operate in Barbados. However, the ul mate goal will be to
achieve accredita on status – either ins tu onal or
programma c – which will provide global recogni on that the
ins tu on or programme has met quality standards
established by the Barbados Accredita on Council, most likely
would be the follow‐through organisa on to carry both the
qualifica on framework and the accredita on process.”
Minister Jones also thanked the Board of Directors of the MQA
and the MQA team for kindly readily consen ng to assist
Barbados at this “cri cal juncture in the development of its
human resources”, and reminded those gathered that the
island’s key resource was indeed its human resources.
The Mauri us team, Mr Phoolchund, Director (Ag) (centre right), Mr Ramchurn,
Manager, Framework Services (right) and Mr Nookadee, Accredita on Officer,
(le ) sharing their knowledge with Ms Valda Alleyne, Execu ve Director (head of
table) and staff of BAC
Minister of Educa on, Science, Technology and Innova on, Hon. Ronald
D. Jones, J.P, M.P. addressing the par cipants of the 2‐day workshop,
with Ms Valda Alleyne, Execu ve Director, BAC and Mr Phoolchund,
Director (Ag), MQA at the head table
Participants at the 2-day workshop
CANQATE NEWS | October 2016 | Page 8

9. GRENADA NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD
NEWS AND HAPPENINGS
The Grenada Na onal Accredita on Board (GNAB) was
launched by the Minister for Educa on and Human
Resource Development in January 2014, following
legisla on passed in 2004 and legisla ve acts in 2011 by the
Government of Grenada.
Following the launch, GNAB embarked on the development
of appropriate policies, frameworks, procedures and
processes for the accredita on of ins tu ons and
programmes. Since then, a webpage for the Board has
been created. Upgrading of the webpage into a fully
func oning portal will occur during the coming year.
GNAB has also been instrumental in the development of
the Accredita on Act for medical programmes delivered in
Grenada. The Act was passed in Parliament together with
the relevant Statuary Rules and Order. CAAM‐HP is now the
agency responsible for accredi ng medical programmes
delivered in Grenada. In addi on, GNAB has successfully
applied to the Na onal Commi ee on Foreign Medical
Educa on and Accredita on (NCFMEA) for comparability of
the standard and processes used to accredit medical
schools in Grenada. NCFMEA reviewed the applica on to
determine the comparability of Grenada’ medical
accredita on system for Doctor of Medicine programmes,
or equivalent, to systems to accredit such programmes in
the USA. Grenada has been issued the Le er of
Comparability which now allows United States students
a ending St George’s University School of Medicine to
access direct loans to help cover educa onal expenses.
In recent mes, GNAB has embarked on a capacity building
ini a ve to develop exper se in quality assurance. To this
effect, three individuals have been given scholarships to
par cipate in the Quality Assurance Course. This is an
online programme offered by the Commonwealth of
Learning in collabora on with the University of Mauri us.
Par cipants will receive either a cer ficate in Quality
Assurance or a Post Graduate Diploma. The programme is
designed to help par cipants develop an understanding of
the higher educa on context in which quality assurance
agencies operate. One component of the programme aims
to help quality assurance agencies design good quality
assurance prac ces and accountability measures.
GNAB has also been able to secure technical assistance
through the Commonwealth of Learning. A consultant is
working with GNAB to organise an Accredita on Secretariat
to perform day‐to‐day ac vi es of the accredita on
process. Addi onally, the consultant will review exis ng
policies, frameworks, procedures and processes to facilitate
the accredita on of ins tu ons and programmes.
Looking ahead: On the list of priori es for GNAB is
implementa on of the Accredita on Secretariat;
developing a Na onal Qualifica ons Framework;
registra on and accredita on of two exis ng ins tu ons;
and guiding the establishment of a new theological
ins tu on. The Board will also embark on conduc ng
sessions to sensi se the public on the established criteria
for the registra on and accredita on of ter ary ins tu ons
and providers, opera ng in Grenada.
The Grenada Na onal Accredita on Board takes this
opportunity to express its apprecia on to the
Commonwealth of Learning, ACTT, ABNAB, Na onal
Accredita on Council of Guyana and UCJ for their
con nued support.
Commitmentto
Excellence
ResearchFocus
Innovaveness
Inclusiveness
StrategicInfluence
CANQATE NEWS | October 2016 | Page 9

10. NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
NEWS AND HAPPENINGS
The na on state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines consists
of 32 islands and cays. Mainland St. Vincent is the largest of
the archipelagic chain. Over the past year the Na onal
Accredita on Board (NAB), through its Secretariat, the
Accredita on Unit (AU), made a concerted effort to engage in
a series of public educa on campaigns. This step became
necessary despite the AU/NAB services to the public since
2009. It was deemed necessary to demys fy some of the
concerns that appear to challenge the growth of the quality
assurance ethos in the state.
Accordingly, several public awareness strategies were
employed by the AU/NAB to remedy the situa on. Some of
the strategies employed were par cipa ng in public fairs or
exhibi ons, schools’ outreach; and engaging public sector
employees, as well as academic providers. The two sectors
which hold significance to this report are the public sector
employees, as well as academic providers. The public sector
employees chosen were the classroom teachers. Significant
too, were the small providers, albeit for a different reason.
With the excep on of one, the small providers began offering
their services before the advent AU/NAB
The objec ve for enlis ng the support of the classroom
teachers was based on the economics of the ripple effect. That
is, the unique capacity teachers have to inexpensively
disseminate informa on to large numbers of persons directly
and indirectly. One aspect of this teacher‐based public
awareness strategy was the Grenadines Campaigne. This two‐
day outreach took place late August as a part of the annual
Professional Development Week mandated for teachers
na onwide.
This strategy enabled the AU/NAB to reach directly or
indirectly the 10,000 inhabitants of the two islands through
targe ng the teachers on two of the Grenadines islands (Union
Island and Bequia). Par cipants were advised that the AU/NAB
revised its system of verifica on of creden als. Whereas an
over‐the‐counter system was used in previous years.
Customers have to submit their creden als in advance.
Jus fica ons for the revised system was provided. During this
outreach, par cipants were also exposed to samples of
fraudulent documents/cer ficates and creden als obtained
from diploma mills. This was done to give par cipants an
apprecia on of the revised system. This ini a ve was deemed
a success based on the inquiries which were made at the AU/
NAB following the event.
A workshop targe ng small providers, under the cap on
“Earning a degree is not whimsical; therefore Quality
Assurance is not op onal”, was another aspect of the public
awareness campaign undertaken in April of this year. There
were two desired short‐term outcomes. The first was for
providers to be given support in the registra on process,
hence resul ng in some introspec on on the part of providers.
Secondly, the AU/NAB hoped that the gathering would
facilitate networking among colleges which have similar
concerns.
An invita on was extended to Senior Educa on Officers (SEOs)
to a end this workshop. The AU/NAB, an cipate that in the
long run both the providers and the SEOs will become visible in
the na onal conversa on on the importance of strengthening
the quality assurance ethos.
Presenters and par cipants at the April 2016 Quality Assurance
Workshop
Ms. Jonelle O’Garro and Ms. Desiree Robinson on the Grenadine is-
land of Bequia
CANQATE NEWS | October 2016 | Page 10

11. NEWS AND HAPPENINGS
THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL OF JAMAICA
A preliminary study carried out with members of the Human
Resource Management Associa on of Jamaica (HRMAJ) and
final year undergraduate students from a local ter ary
ins tu on iden fied the skills and a ributes students need to
develop and hone, in order to enter the job market and be
successful in their career.
The results from the study, conducted in March 2016, suggest
that employers, when hiring recent graduates, place
importance on communica on skills; emo onal intelligence;
personal appearance and deportment; and the level of
knowledge and skills specific to the graduates’ chosen career;
the accredita on status of the programmes from which
graduates have come, and the prac cal experience students
have in the area of employment.
Employers’ expecta ons of skills and a ributes required for
the workplace were ranked as follows: working with others in a
team; coping with stressful situa ons; intellectual ability and
intelligence; honesty, accountability and ethical standards; and
taking responsibility. Several other factors were considered
important, including: students’ academic achievements; and
knowledge and skills beyond the areas of employment.
There were similar pa erns in rela on to what students
perceived to be some of the key factors employers valued as
important when hiring, ranked in a different order, however.
These were: knowledge and skills specific to their chosen
career; communica on skills; the accredita on status of the
programmes; emo onal intelligence; and academic
achievement.
Students’ percep ons of the skills and a ributes for the
workplace were: having a posi ve a tude towards work;
working with others in a team; honesty, accountability and
ethical standards; cri cal thinking and reasoning skills; and
taking responsibility.
The findings of this preliminary study were presented at a
Students’ Forum held during the UCJ’s celebra on of its 11th
Annual Quality Assurance in Ter ary Educa on Week from
March 7‐11, 2016, under the theme Assuring Quality in
Programme Outcomes: Impera ve for Graduate Effec veness.
The forum concluded with a robust panel discussion on the
findings.
The UCJ will be conduc ng a larger study and will be seeking
employers’ support as the organisa on delves deeper into this
cri cal area of ensuring that the na on’s graduates are
developing the skills required by employers in Jamaica and
abroad.
Panellists respond to ques ons at the
Students’ Forum
Par cipants listen intently to the
presenta on on “Workplace Skills and
A ributes” at the Students’ Forum
CANQATE NEWS | October 2016 | Page 11

12. CANQATE SECRETARIAT
c/o The Accredita on Council of Trinidad and Tobago
Ground Floor and Level 3
Building B, Pan‐American Life Plaza
91‐93 St Vincent Street
Port of Spain, Trinidad, W.I.
Tel: (868) 623‐2500.
E‐mail: canqateinfo@gmail.com
On the web at: h p://canqate.org