TCI Community College Looks to Expand Horizons

Turks & Caicos News - March 2013

TCI Community College Looks to Expand Horizons

A few prestigious members of the Turks and Caicos continuing education scene announced today, March 4, a new venture with international partners that not only looks to expand upon the learning experience of local students, but also to gauge the impact of tourism on the islands’ overall quality of life.

On Monday, March 4, key figures in Turks and Caicos’ education departments including Claudette Munroe Clare, chairman for the Turks and Caicos Community College board of governors, Lee Ingham, president of the Turks and Caicos Community College, Claudia Smith, academic dean of TCICC, and Samuel Forbes, vice president of TCICC welcomed Damian James, curriculum manager of health and life services at South West College in Northern Ireland, as he presented an exciting new learning opportunity for TCICC students and the nation.

“We’re seeking to develop international partners across the world so that…our faculty, and students in particular, can benefit from the expertise that we all have in our different parts of the world that we can then bring together and hopefully create better experiences for our students and make our staff stronger and [put them] in a better position to deliver the curriculum that they are asked to,” said James.

The TCICC is partnering with South West College, as well as colleges from Turkey, Spain, Romania, and Sardinia, as part of an international collaboration to study the overall effect of tourism on the local quality of life.

The program also aims to introduce students studying in the hospitality fields to tourism practices in other countries, in an effort to broaden their understanding of tourism as a global industry. With this program, faculty will also be encouraged to travel between participating schools in order to expand upon their existing knowledge base and gain more of a worldwide understanding of education and hospitality as well.

The participating schools have already applied for funding from the U.K. Government, with the hopes of receiving $25k Euros per school towards the program. If approved, and if the program proves successful, the schools will look into including other areas of study outside of tourism and hospitality. South West College and TCICC are planning to draw up a Memorandum of Understanding with the hopes of developing a more extensive partnership.

“There’s a lot to come and hopefully we can all be on-board as it will be beneficial to all those concerned,” said Smith. James will be in the islands for the week, visiting the TCICC campuses on Providenciales and Grand Turk, while also working on the MOU. They expect to hear decisions on their applications for funding in June.

 

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Written by Turks & Caicos Free Press Newspaper, March 4, 2013.