Annual Report, 2011 2012

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-2012 1BARBADOS ACCREDITATION COUNCIL

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW

ESTABLISHMENT, ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

REPORTING STRUCTURE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: 2011 - 2012

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

TECHNICAL OPERATIONS

CERTIFICATES ISSUED AND VERIFIED BY COUNTRY AND GENDER

ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS

PROMOTION AND MARKETING

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

12

25

32

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Table ofCONTENTS

ANNUAL REPORT 2011-20122 BARBADOS ACCREDITATION COUNCIL

Letter of Transmittal

July 29, 2013

The Honourable Ronald D. Jones, J.P., M.P.Minister of Education, Science, Technology and InnovationThro’ The Permanent SecretaryMinistry of Education, Science, Technology and InnovationElsie Payne ComplexConstitution RoadST. MICHAEL.

Dear Sir,

In pursuance of Section 20 of the Barbados Accreditation Council Act, 2004-11, I have the honour to submit the Annual Report for the period April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.

Yours faithfully

Yvonne Walkes SCM, J.P.Chairman

“Your Gateway to Global Recognition”


ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD: APRIL 01, 2011 TO MARCH 31, 2012

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ms. Yvonne Walkes SCM, J.P. - Chairman

Mr. Kenneth Walters - Deputy Chairman

Ms. Maria Phillips - Board Secretary

Mr. Laurie King - Chief Education Officer (ag.)

Ms. Joy Gittens - Deputy Chief Education Officer (ag.)

Mr. Michael Best - Barbados Employers’ Confederation Representative – Member

Mr. Herbert Gittens - Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados – Member

Mr. Grantley Smith - Head of the Civil Service – Ex-officio Member

Ms. Valda Alleyne - Executive Director – Ex-officio Member


This financial year (2011-2012) has again been exciting as the Council continued to assist tertiary educational providers that are seeking to establish or improve their Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) management systems in order to meet registration or accreditation processes and; sensitize the public of the Council’s role and responsibilities through an intense promotion and marketing campaign. We are pleased to report that consistent efforts are being made by some tertiary educational providers to the extent that Student Handbooks, Complaints Procedures, manual or computerised student records can now be found as part of their IQA management processes.

CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW

Requests for recognition of foreign-based qualifications have remained constant while there is still a low demand for the recognition of institutions and/programmes of study. The Council is urging individuals to seek the recognition of institutions and/programmes before pursuing studies, whether the mode of delivery is on site or via distance education, given the prevalence of fraudulent tertiary educational providers, known as Diploma Mills. Equally important, employers should seek to verify the recognition of the institutions, programmes of study and qualifications as part of the recruitment process in order to avoid making costly mistakes. The demand for the Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification has remained high as Barbadians and other CARICOM nationals pursue opportunities to enter and seek work in Member States.

The impending National Qualifications Framework (NQF) will transform the way in which qualifications are offered to the public. The NQF will send a strong signal to the public that local tertiary educational providers, their programmes of study and qualifications meet the Council’s recognition criteria. Tertiary educational providers are therefore encouraged to review their programmes of study and the associated awards to ensure relevance and integrity, amongst other good practices.

Finally, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish to extend my appreciation to all stakeholders, our internal committees and, staff members for their valuable contribution to the work of the Council.

Yvonne Walkes, SCM, J.P.Chairman


ESTABLISHMENT, ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Establishment of the Barbados Accreditation Council

The Barbados Accreditation Council was established as a statutory body under the authority of the Barbados Accreditation Council Act, 2004-11. It has two (2) broad roles:

1. The registration of institutions offering post-secondary or tertiary education and programmes of study, the accreditation and re-accreditation of programmes and institutions in Barbados; and

2. The granting of Certificates of Recognition of Caribbean Community Skills Qualification to applicants who satisfy the requirements for recognition as skilled CARICOM nationals and verifying of Certificates of Recognition of Caribbean Community Skills Qualification granted to community nationals by their own country.

The functions of the Council are to, inter alia:

a) Register local, regional and foreign-based institutions that offer educational courses in Barbados;

b) Accredit and re-accredit programmes of study and institutions operating in Barbados;

c) Maintain a record of all institutions that are registered and accredited by the Council pursuant to paragraph (a) and the educational courses offered by those institutions;

d) Advise on the recognition of foreign-based institutions and their awards;

e) Establish relationships with national, regional and international accreditation bodies;

f) Determine the equivalency of programmes and qualifications; and

g) Examine and verify Certificates of Recognition issued to Community nationals.


REPORTING STRUCTUREBARBADOS ACCREDITATION COUNCIL (BAC)

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND HUMANRESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND HUMANRESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

ChairmanBoard of Directors, BAC

Executive DirectorBAC Secretariat

BAC Secretariat


Back row from left to right:

Mr. Grantley Smith – Head of the Civil Service (Ex Officio Member), Mr. Herbert Gittens, Representative, CTUSAB (Member), Mrs. Joy Adamson – Representative, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (Member), Mr. Laurie King – Representative, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (Member), Mr. Kenneth Walters (Deputy Chairman)

Front row from left to right:

Ms. Valda Alleyne – Executive Director (Ex Officio Member), Mr. Michael Best – Representative, Barbados Employers Confederation (Member), Ms. Yvonne Walkes, SCM, J.P. - Chairman, Ms. Maria Phillips - Board Secretary

BOARD ofDIRECTORS


ORGANIZATIONALSTRUCTURE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MANAGER TECHNICAL SERVICES

QUALITY ASSURANCEOFFICERS (5)

ADMINISTRATIVEOFFICER I

INFORMATIONOFFICER

EXECUTIVESECRETARY

ASSISTANTACCOUNTANT

ACCOUNTANT

CLERICAL OFFICERCLERK TYPISTS (2)

STATISTICALASSISTANT

DRIVER/MESSENGER

MAID


SECTION B: ACTIVITIES OF THE COUNCIL

TECHNICAL OPERATIONSImplementation of Policies and Procedures/Processes for Tertiary Educational Providers

1. During the period under review, the following policies and procedures for Tertiary Educational Providers were approved by the Board of Directors and subsequently implemented:

a) Complaints Policy and Procedure/Process for Tertiary Educational Providers

2. The responsibilities of the Complaints Committee are to:

i. examine each complaintii. review the findings of the Secretariat in respect of the complaint;

iii. hear complaints, as necessaryiv. make recommendations on complaints to the Board of Directors; andv. review periodically the complaints process and procedure and make

recommendations where necessary to the Board of Directors.

3. The Council will receive complaints relating to “prospectuses” which shall include not only the provider’s brochures and leaflets, but also its letters, advertisements and other publications making statements about its programme(s) of study.

b) Code of Practice for the Assurance of Academic Quality and Standards in Distance Education

4. The Council has continued to receive requests for guidance from local and foreign providers that are seeking to offer programmes via distance education. To assure the quality of this mode of delivery at the post-secondary/tertiary level, the Council has implemented eight (8) protocols that fall under the following criteria:

• Institutional Mission• Governance and Administration• Curriculum and Instruction• Learning and Information Resources• Faculty Support• Learner Support• Evaluation and Assessment; and• Quality Assurance and Quality Enhancement


5. The purpose of the Code of Practice and the associated Protocols will be to:

a. facilitate access by learners to educational programmes of the same quality delivered on site and through distance education;

b. facilitate the process through which providers serve learners through distance education technology;

c. implement policies and guidelines that direct the provision of educational offerings by post-secondary or tertiary educational programmes using technology/media;1

d. support existing quality assurance/accreditation mechanisms related to the tertiary sector within Barbados;

e. provide a framework that gives providers the flexibility to maintain the quality of educational provisions, while adapting their delivery modes to the emerging needs of students and society; and

f. provide a self-assessment framework for providers already involved in distance education.

6. Given the increasing prevalence of programme offerings via distance education mode of delivery and interest by local providers, the Council will be sensitizing tertiary educational providers of good practices when offering programmes/courses of study through mechanisms such as technical workshops, its public literature and website.

Equivalency Committee

7. The Equivalency Committee met monthly to review the recommendations of the Secretariat and the criteria to be used for determining the equivalence/comparability of foreign-based qualifications to local awards. During the period under review, members of the Equivalency Committee who attended meetings were:

• Mr. Kenneth Walters, Chairman • Mr. Laurie King, Board Member• Mr. Herbert Gittens – Board Member• Mr. Geoffrey Yearwood – Manager, Employment Training Fund; Representative,

Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council• Ms. Carol Ann Burke, Business Development Officer, TVET Council (Alternate Member) • Mr. Wayne Marshall – Administrative Officer I, Ministry of Civil Service (Alternate Member)• Mr. Anthony Joseph – Administrative Officer I, Ministry of Civil Service (Alternate

Member)• Ms. Valda Alleyne, Executive Director (Ex Officio Member)


Equivalency of Qualifications

8. During the period under review, the Council received one hundred (100) requests for evaluation of foreign-based qualifications against local qualifications and completed the evaluation of seventy-one (71) qualifications.

9. The challenges which the Council continue to face are related to:

• the lack of supporting documentation by applicants, for example detailed course outlines/syllabi and delays of verification; and

• other vital information from competent authorities or tertiary educational

institutions to complete the evaluation process.

10. The demand for this recognition service has continued to be high as Barbadians and non-nationals have sought comparability of their qualifications to local awards in order to access local educational and employment opportunities.

Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification

11. During the period under review, the Council issued one hundred and eighty-one (181) Certificates of Recognition to eligible CARICOM nationals of whom, sixty-eight (68) accounted for males and one hundred and thirteen (113) accounted for females as shown in Table 1.

12. In terms of Certificates issued by Country and Gender, Table 1 indicates that Females outnumbered Males at 113 or 62.4% of the total as well as for Certificates verified at 94 or 66.7% of the total.


CERTIFICATES ISSUED AND VERIFIED BY COUNTRY AND GENDER April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012

COUNTRYMALES

FEMALESNUMBER OF CERTIFICATES NUMBER OF CERTIFICATES

ISSUED VERIFIED ISSUED VERIFIED

Anguilla 0 0 0 0

Antigua and Barbuda 0 1 0 5

Barbados 31 0 53 0

Belize 0 0 1 2

Dominica 1 3 4 2

Grenada 2 4 1 11

Guyana 8 10 7 22

Jamaica 9 13 18 19

Montserrat 1 0 0 0

St. Kitts and Nevis 0 0 1 0

St. Lucia 3 6 4 9

St. Vincent and the Grenadines 4 1 3 5

Suriname 0 0 0 0

Trinidad and Tobago 9 9 21 19

TOTAL 68 47 113 94

TABLE 1

13. In relation to Certificates issued, Table 1 also reveals that the majority of Certificates issued was to nationals of Barbados at 84 persons or 46.4% of the total Certificates issued; followed by Trinidad and Tobago at 30 persons or 16.6% and; Jamaica which accounted for 27 persons or 14.9%.

14. In terms of Certificates verified, Table 1 further indicates that nationals of Guyana and Jamaica accounted for 32 persons or 22.7% of the total Certificates verified; followed by Trinidad and Tobago at 28 persons or 19.9%.

15. Figures 1 and 2 provide a pictorial comparison of the Certificates Issued and Certificates Verified during the period April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011 and April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012.


Figure IComparison of “Certificates Issued” for the periods

April 01, 2010 to March 31, 2011 and April 01, 2011 to March 31, 2012


Figure 2Comparison of “Certificates Verified” for the periods

April 01, 2010 to March 31, 2011 and April 01, 2011 to March 31, 2012

16. An examination of the data in relation to Certificates issued by Country and Category, revealed that persons with at least a Bachelor’s degree (Graduates) accounted for the highest number recorded at 141 or 77.9% of the total number of persons being issued with Certificates; followed by Holders of an Associate Degree or Comparable Qualification at 24 or 13.3%; and Sportspersons at 8 or 4.4%.

17. Within the Category of Graduates, Barbadians accounted for the majority in this category at 73 or 51.8% as persons sought to grasped opportunities offered by the Free Movement of CARICOM nationals; followed by nationals of Trinidad and Tobago at 24 or 17.0% and Jamaica at 19 persons or 13.5%. Figure 3 provides a breakdown of the category “Graduates” by Country.


Figure 3 – Certificates Issued to Graduates by Country

18. In terms of Verifications by Country and Category, Graduates again dominated with 106 persons or 75.2% of the total persons who sought verification of their Certificates issued by other Member States; followed by Holders of Associate Degree with 22 persons or 15.6% of the total.

19. Within the category of “Graduates”, nationals of Trinidad and Tobago accounted for the highest number at 27 persons or 25.5% of the total within that category; followed by nationals of Guyana at 24 persons or 22.6% and Jamaica at 21 persons or 19.8%. Figure 4 shows the distribution for “Graduates” by Country.


Figure 4 – Verifications Issued to Graduates by Country

20. Tables 3 and 4 shows that the younger generation appeared to be grasping the opportunities offered through the Free Movement of CARICOM Nationals the age group 21-25 years old for both sexes accounted for the largest number of persons applying for the Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills or seeking to have their Certificates verified that were issued by other Member States. By Gender, Table 2 indicates that the age group (21-25 years) for Females doubled that of Males in the same age group.


TABLE 2CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY GENDER AND AGE: MALES

MALES

PERIOD 18-20 YRS

21-25 YRS

26-30 YRS

31-35 YRS

36-40 YRS

41-45 YRS

46+ YRS TOTAL

April - June 2011 0 1 3 6 2 4 1 39

July - Sept. 2011 2 7 9 2 1 2 2 25

Oct. - Dec. 2011 0 0 2 1 2 0 1 6

Jan. - March 2012 0 9 2 3 2 1 3 20

TOTAL 2 17 16 12 7 7 7 68

TABLE 3CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY GENDER AND AGE: FEMALES

FEMALES

PERIOD 18-20 YRS

21-25 YRS

26-30 YRS

31-35 YRS

36-40 YRS

41-45 YRS

46+ YRS TOTAL

April - June 2011 1 13 11 6 3 2 3 39

July - Sept. 2011 1 9 10 6 3 3 5 37

Oct. - Dec. 2011 0 8 2 0 0 1 0 11

Jan. - March 2012 1 8 4 3 3 4 3 26

TOTAL 3 38 27 15 9 10 11 113

21. With regard to Certificates verified by Gender and Age, Tables 4 and 5 indicate that the age group (31-35 years) recorded the highest movement for Males at twelve (12) persons followed by the age group (26-30 years). In respect of Females, the age group (26-30 years) accounted for the highest number at twenty-five (25) persons; followed by the age group (21-25 years) with twenty-one (21) persons.


TABLE 4CERTIFICATES VERIFIED BY GENDER AND AGE: MALES

MALES

PERIOD 18-20 YRS

21-25 YRS

26-30 YRS

31-35 YRS

36-40 YRS

41-45 YRS

46+ YRS TOTAL

April - June 2011 0 1 3 6 2 4 1 17

July - Sept. 2011 1 2 3 5 0 1 2 14

Oct. - Dec. 2011 1 0 1 0 0 0 4 6

Jan. - March 2012 0 0 4 1 2 2 1 10

TOTAL 2 3 11 12 4 7 8 47

TABLE 5

CERTIFICATES VERIFIED BY GENDER AND AGE: FEMALES

FEMALES

PERIOD 18-20 YRS

21-25 YRS

26-30 YRS

31-35 YRS

36-40 YRS

41-45 YRS

46+ YRS TOTAL

April - June 2011 3 7 6 5 5 2 6 34

July - Sept. 2011 1 4 7 1 1 0 1 15

Oct. - Dec. 2011 1 2 1 3 4 2 1 14

Jan. - March 2012 1 8 11 4 3 1 3 31

TOTAL 6 21 25 13 13 5 11 94

22. Three (3) applications for the issuance and verification of the Certificate of Recognition were refused.


Recognition of Institutions and Programmes of Study

23. The Council received fourteen (14) applications for recognition of institutions of overseas institutions and programmes of study. The Statements of Recognition were issued to all applicants.

24. Despite the Council’s vigourous educational awareness programme to alert the public of the need to ascertain the recognition of institutions and programmes of study, the interest in this recognition service has generally remained low. Nevertheless, the Council will continue to urge the public to seek recognition of prospective institutions and programmes of study before investing time, money and effort and more importantly, warn the public of the dangers of Diploma and Accreditation Mills.

Registration of Tertiary Educational Providers

25. Institutions offering post-secondary and tertiary education and training must register with the Council. The primary purpose of registration is to ensure that educational institutions and training providers meet approved standards to operate legally in Barbados; for example, that adequate physical, learning and financial resources are available and they are meeting fire and health requirements. 26. During the period under review, forty (40) tertiary educational providers were registered with the Council. The list of registered providers is shown at Appendix I.

Preparing for Institutional Accreditation

27. The University of the West Indies, Open and Cave Hill Campuses met the candidacy criteria for Institutional Accreditation. To achieve this stage of the accreditation process, the provider must demonstrate that it has:

• met the Council’s Eligibility Requirements;• the capability to meet the Council’s Standards for Accreditation which includes

having organized sufficient human, financial, learning and physical resources; and• a comprehensive plan in place to acquire, organize, and appropriately apply any

additional resources needed to comply with the Council’s Standards for Accreditation.

28. In preparation for the accreditation evaluation visit by external/peer reviewers, the Council continued to provide assistance and support to the UWI Cave Hill and Open campuses. During the year under review, the Council held meetings with the accreditation coordinating personnel which also included a meeting with the Campuses’ Steering Committees. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the institutions’ progress and any challenge(s) and; discuss the composition of the external evaluators who would be visiting the two campuses to determine whether they meet the Council’s accreditation, amongst other matters related to the accreditation process.


Engagement of Services as External Evaluators

29. The Council engaged the services of fifteen (15) persons to undertake external evaluation/peer review of institutions or programmes of study on its behalf over the two-year period November, 2011 to October, 2013.

30. Amongst other strengths, external evaluators were expected to be able to bring their skills, knowledge and understanding in the tertiary education sector along with relevant industry experience to the peer review process and be able to work as team for the purpose of registration, accreditation and programme approval.

Technical Workshops

31. The following technical workshops were conducted during the period under review:

• The Programme Approval Process - This workshop was held on June 27 at the Hotel PomMarine (Hospitality Institute), Hastings, Christ Church. The target group was tertiary educational providers and the workshop attracted thirty-five (35) participants. This forum sought to clarify the programme approval process, explain the programme approval criteria and provide participants with hands-on exposure with respect to designing a programme specification document. The participants’ feedback suggested that the workshop was a resounding success as the written and verbal feedback indicated that the workshop objectives were met and the providers were eager to put their skills into practice.

Programme approval is a quality assurance process which assures that a programme is appropriately designed and structured; adequately resourced; consistent with the provider’s mission; and has stated learning outcomes and assessment strategies that are set an appropriate level for the qualification awarded. Ms. Yvonne Walkes, SCM, J.P. Chairman, BAC delivered the Remarks at the Opening Ceremony. In her remarks, Ms. Walkes spoke about the benefits of an effective Internal Quality Management System for Programme Approval within institutions. Specifically, the Chairman reiterated that an effective and efficient process-driven Quality Management System (QMS) for Programme Approval, would provide:

• Background Information for example, rationale for the programme of study; programme title, department offering the programme, individual/department responsible for the course, course code, number of hours/units/credits; level of qualification/award, name of qualification and the date that the course/programme specification was authorized;


• Programme/Course of Study Information for example, overall course aims, intended learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, understanding, generic and professional skills); course content (detailed), delivery methods, student assessment; course evaluation, monitoring and review mechanisms to ensure continuous quality improvement;

• Student Support Information for example, essential reading materials (e.g text books, journals, periodicals, websites); and

• Resources information for example, teaching and other support staff, learning facilities including laboratories (where appropriate), fieldwork/site visits, financial resources available to the institution and; possible sources for student financial aid.

Participants at the Programme Approval Workshop – June, 2012


• Preparing for Accreditation - This workshop was held from November 8-9 at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church. It was aimed at providing assistance to tertiary educational providers as they sought to prepare for accreditation. As such, the accreditation process including the Institutional and Programmatic Standards and the steps necessary for an effective evaluation were explained and any issues clarified. In addition, the nineteen tertiary providers who attended were provided with the opportunity to prepare an effective Self Evaluative Report which is a requirement of the accreditation process.

• Peer Review/External Evaluator Training - The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in partnership with the European Union hosted a Workshop for Peer Review/External Evaluators on behalf of the Council from November 21 to 23, 2011 at the Blue Horizon Hotel, Rockley, Christ Church. This workshop was intended at strengthening the human resource capacity of National External Quality Assurance agencies in the region. Sixteen (16) persons from the Council’s pool of evaluators participated in the workshop. The facilitators were Dr Ruby Alleyne, Vice President of Quality Assurance and Enhancement, University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and former Executive Director, Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) and Mr. Jason Stafford, Manager, Quality Assurance, UTT and former Research Officer, ACTT. The trained external evaluators are expected to offer their skills and knowledge to Barbados and the rest of the region.

Participants at the Peer Review/External Evaluators Training Workshop – November, 2012Recognition of Awarding Bodies

The Chairman, Ms. Yvonne Walkes, SCM. J.P. delivered the Remarks at the Opening of the Workshop. Ms. Walkes emphasised that the competencies of the external evaluator were critical to the credibility of the Council. The Chairman remarked that “amongst other competencies, evaluators must be knowledgeable of quality assurance and accreditation systems and practices in tertiary education and training; possess excellent interpersonal abilities as they must be able to communicate effectively; be open-minded in making decisions; must be able to work in small teams, work in tight time schedules and write effective reports for sound decision-making by the quality assurance agency”.


32. The 2010-2011 Annual Report showcased the Council’s first recognition of an awarding body namely, the Certified Management Accountants (CMA). This significant milestone was marked with an official presentation of a Certificate of Recognition by the Chairman, Ms. Yvonne Walkes, SCM, J.P. to Ms. Nancy Foran, Chief Executive Officer of the CMA.

33. Expressions of interest have continued to be received from interested local, regional and extra-regional bodies for recognition as awarding bodies. During the period under review, the Council was engaged in discussions and continued to provide technical support to the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) which has commenced the recognition process which includes the self evaluation of the organization. This critical self analysis requires that the awarding body demonstrate that:

a) its corporate governance, strategic aims, objectives and policies are appropriate and are understood by all who refer to them;

b) it has developed and implemented a robust quality framework that ensures a quality product is delivered to the candidates. The awarding body and its staff are committed to a quality culture of continuous improvement through review and evaluation; and

c) its administrative and support arrangements have been designed to reduce bureaucracy, are responsive to stakeholders needs, and are cost effective. The awarding body continually reviews its qualification provision to ensure it has, and deploys, sufficient resources to administer and support its qualification provision.

34. Once the above steps are completed, the Council determines whether awarding bodies, such as the ACCA, meet the Council’s criteria for Recognition as an Awarding Body.

National Qualifications Framework

35. The Council has been identified as the agency responsible for the design, development and implementation of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) which is a critical component of the Barbados Human Resource Strategy 2011-2016. By the end of 2016, it is anticipated that this major initiative will be implemented successfully by the Barbados Accreditation Council. The NQF is one of five pillars of strategic intervention articulated in the Barbados Human Resource Development Strategy 2011-2016 which was approved by Government of Barbados in December, 2010.


36. By design, the NQF is expected to:2:

• consolidate the delivery of education and training under a single framework;

• make it easier for learners to enter the educational system and to move and progress horizontally and vertically within it;

• improve the educational quality in Barbados;

• expand access to learning and work opportunities for all; and

• enable learners to develop to their full potential.

37. During the period under review, the Council commenced the planning process in consultation with the Human Resource Development Strategy Programme Unit of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development. Completed activities included:

• developing the Terms of Reference for the undertaking of the design, development and implementation of the NQF; and

• arranging with competent authorities for study attachments by the Council’s staff to learn of best practices in the design, development and implementation of National Qualifications Frameworks.

38. During the coming financial year 2013-2014, the Council will be seeking to engage competent individuals to undertake the design and development of the NQF, and provide training and development to staff members to ensure that they have the requisite skills, knowledge and understanding required to implement and successfully maintain and sustain the NQF.

2 Government of Barbados (2010), “Barbados Human Resource Development Strategy 2011-2016”, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development


SECTION B: ACTIVITIES OF THE COUNCIL

ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONSMeetings of the Board of Directors

39. During the period April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012 the Board of Directors held ten (10) regular meetings and one (1) Special meeting.

Appointment to the Board of Directors

40. During the period under review, there was a change in the membership of the Board of Directors where the Head of the Civil Service, Ex Officio Member was replaced by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Civil Service on the Board of Directors.Proposed Amendments to the BAC Act, 2004 and Draft Regulations

41. The Board of Directors approved the Proposed Amendments to the BAC Act, 2004 and Draft Regulations for drafting by the Legal Counsel. Discussion has commenced on the first draft Amendments to the Act and it is anticipated that the amended Act will be in place by the financial year ending March, 2014.

Engagement of Services

42. During the period under review, the Council engaged the services of the following providers:

a. Hinkson Computer Solutions Inc. to manage the daily Information Technology system on an “As Required” basis; and

b. Bancroft and Company Limited to audit the accounts for the financial year 2011-2012; and

c. Grace McCaskie & Company to provide legal services on a retainer basis;

d. Hallmark Corporate & Consulting Inc. to provide professional accounting services to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Council; and

e. Network Services Incorporated to provide clinical counselling to staff members through its Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

f. Mrs. Alitia Quintyne as Technical Associate to provide services related to the Quality Assurance and Quality Enhancement function of the Council.


Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

43. The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a professional assessment, referral and/short term counselling service which was offered to staff members who may be experiencing difficult personal or work-related problems that affect their personal and work place productivity.

44. During the period under the review, the Network Services Centre Inc. provided the following services:

• An Orientation Session for the entire staff on the EAP;• A Training Workshop for managers and supervisors on how to use the EAP effectively; • Individual Counselling Sessions for staff members; and• A Staff Engagement Seminar/Workshop on “Communications and Interpersonal

Relations”

Approval for the Creation of New Posts

45. The Council was granted approval for the creation of the following posts:

• Manager, Technical Services (1)• Quality Assurance Officer (3)• Accountant (1)• Statistical Assistant (1)• Clerk/Typist (1)

46. The new posts were advertised in the print and electronic media during the period under review.

47. Approval was also granted by the Ministry of the Civil for the re-designation of the two (2) existing posts of Accreditation Officer to Quality Assurance Officer.

Approved Policies and Procedures

48. The following policies and procedures were approved by the Board of Directors and implemented during the period under review:

(1) Advance of a Motor Vehicle Loan

49. Subject to the availability of funds, an interest free loan may be granted, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, to an employee holding a permanent appointment to an office specified


by the Board of Directors as eligible for a Motor Vehicle Loan. The loan shall be for purchasing or refurbishing a motor vehicle and the maximum advance by way of a loan to an employee to purchase a vehicle shall be:

• In the case of a motor vehicle - $50,000.00• In the case of refurbishment of a motor vehicle - $6,000.00• In the case of a motor cycle/scooter - $5,000.00

50. A loan advanced to a staff member shall be secured by a Bill of Sale or such other security as approved by the Board of Directors.

(2) Compassionate Leave

o Where an immediate family member (mother, father, husband, wife, child) dies, the affected employee would be granted three (3) days’ compassionate leave;

o Where an extended family member (sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandparent ) dies, the affected employee would be granted two (2) days’ compassionate leave; and

o Where a distant family member (great-grandparent, great-aunt, great-uncle) dies, the affected employee would be granted one (1) day’s compassionate leave on the day of the funeral.

Human Resource Management Committee

51. During the period under review, the Human Resource Management Committee (HRM) held five (5) meetings. The responsibilities of the HRM Committee include reviewing and making recommendations to the Board of Directors with regard to Council’s strategy, practices and procedures in relation to recruitment, leave, performance appraisal, discipline and termination of employment, amongst other HRM matters. Meetings were held during the period under review to consider matters in relation to recruitment of staff and review of the employee contract. Members of the Committee who attended were:

• Mr. Kenneth Walters, Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board• Mr. Herbert Gittens, Member of the Board


• Mr. Michael Best, Member of the Board• Mrs. Joy Adamson, Member of the Board• Ms. Yvonne Walkes, Chairman (Ex Officio Member)• Ms. Valda Alleyne, Executive Director (Ex Officio Member)

Training and Development

52. Mrs. Sharon Alleyne, Accreditation Officer attended an In-Service Training course at the Training Administration Division on “Finance for Non-Finance Managers” during the period July 18-26, 2011.

Grant of Study Leave

53. As part of its thrust to encourage continuous learning and development within the Council, the following staff members were granted study leave during the period under review:

• Ms. Melissa Brathwaite, Clerk/Typist from September 1 to December 31, 2011 to complete studies towards a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of the West Indies; and

• Mrs. Mary Bruce, Administrative Officer 1 from February 1 to July, 31, 2012 to complete

studies towards a Master of Science in Integration Studies from the University of the West Indies.

Student Attachment:

54. The Council continued to provide opportunities for students from post-secondary/tertiary educational institutions to gain valuable work experience during their programmes of study.

55. During the period May 16 to June 24, 2011, the Council hosted Ms. Charlene Prescod, a student from the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic who was pursuing the Business Studies programme.

56. Ms. Prescod was assigned to the Secretarial and Records Section and also assisted at the customer service desk.


CONFERENCES, SEMINARS AND MEETINGS

Consultation on the National Teaching Council and the Regional Standards of Performance for the Teaching Profession

57. The Council was represented by the Executive Director at this consultation which was held on April 7 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. The forum was hosted by the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development and Sagicor Life Inc. Points of interest that were raised during the discussion included:

• the importance of teacher preparation and development in light of what teachers were expected to do, for example, teach values to students, acquire competencies;

• matters of concern to the Ministries of Educationso comparability of teacher qualificationso improvements in teacher education and trainingo proper support for teachers.

• a National Council for Teaching and Teacher Education would be a regulatory body that would bring order and logic to the professional aspect of teaching.

International Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (INQAAHE) Conference

58. During the period April 4 to 7, 2011 the Executive Director and Accreditation Officer, Capt. James Maloney represented the Council at its 10th Biennial Conference of the International Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (INQAAHE) held in Madrid, Spain.The theme of the Conference was “Quality Assurance: Foundation for the Future” which had the following four (4) strands/sub-themes:

• Globalizing forces and national/regional goals• Professionalization of Quality Assurance (QA)• Effective QA processes for diversity, development and sustainability; and• Independence of quality assurance vis á vis different stakeholders

59. The Conference and Pre Conference Workshops presented valuable opportunities for rich discourses and networking. From the dynamic interaction and discussions, one of the key issues which emerged was that globally, quality assurance and the role of quality assurance agencies are under immense scrutiny by tertiary institutions and other international recognition


bodies. As a consequence, External Quality Assurance Agencies (EQAAs) are undergoing transformation to meet the challenges posed by increasing demand for accountability and transparency through external review; and cross border education which is demanding robust QA frameworks and a new way of approaching QA in general. As a consequence, EQAAs will need to transform their operations, including their QA frameworks as well as seek to build and sustain strong relations with tertiary educational institutions.

Caribbean Area Network for Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education (CANQATE) Conference

60. The 9th Annual CANQATE Conference was held in the Bahamas from October 5-7, 2011 under the theme “Enhancing Access to Tertiary Education in a Globalized Environment: The Quality Imperative”. The Conference, which was hosted by The College of the Bahamas, offered opportunities for rich discourses and networking on key the subthemes (strands), namely:

• Online Learning: Issues and Trends• Cross Border Tertiary Education: Challenges and Opportunities• Tertiary Education Accessibility and Financing• ICTs and E-Libraries• Student Learning and Retention• Enhancing Academic Services and On-and Off-Campus Life to Maximize Student

Success

61. As customary, a Pre Conference Workshop was held and the focus was on “Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Student Affairs and Student Services Programme”.

62. The Council was represented by the Chairman and the Executive Director. The Executive Director, as President of CANQATE, also attended the meeting of the Board of Management held during the Conference period.

Offer of Scholarships

63. The Council received two (2) scholarships from CANQATE, through GIQAC/World Bank funding to assist with attendance at the INQAAHE and CANQATE Conferences.


Relations with Regional and International Accreditation/Recognition and Professional Bodies

64. The Council continued to build and sustain relations with the following regional and international/recognition agencies and professional bodies which included:

Caribbean Area Network for Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education (CANQATE);

Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions (ACTI);

International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE); and

The National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom(UK NARIC).

Representation on Committees/Organizations:

65. The Council was represented on the following Committees/Organizations:

• Tertiary Level Commission – chaired by Prof. Sir Hilary Beckles, Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus – to provide a framework for the reform of tertiary education in Barbados.

• Special Assessment and Medical Assessment Committees of the Barbados Medical Council – Chairman - Prof. Errol Walrond – to make recommendations to the Barbados Medical Council in relation to applications for registration and specialist registration from medical doctors.

• Steering Committee for Development of the 2011 – 2016 Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategy of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development – to provide direction to the agencies involved in the implementation of the activities under the five (5) pillars articulated in the Strategy.

• TVET Council: Barbados World Skills Competition on “Shaping a World Class Workforce through Innovation, Creativity and Skills Development” – to promote technical and vocational education and training in Barbados.


66. The Board of Directors approved Promotions and Marketing Action Plans for the Council for the Financial Year: 2011-2012. Activities undertaken during the period included:

Bi-annual Newsletter

• The publishing of the bi-annual newsletter called “BAClight” during the months of June and December. This publication is intended at creating a greater awareness of the Council and its activities through the provision of perspectives on issues in post-secondary and tertiary education and information on its recognition services and promoting events, services and International Quality Assurance and Quality Enhancement matters within the tertiary sector.

Information Sessions

67. As part of its educational awareness sessions on the Council and its activities, the Council continued to host Information Sessions which included secondary schools. Sessions were held at the following institutions:

• Barbados Community College

• St. Lucy Secondary

• Deighton Griffith Secondary

• Ellerslie Secondary

• Alleyne Secondary

PROMOTION & MARKETING


Promotions with the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation

• CBC Socaholics Crop Over Sponsorship – provided the opportunity for the Council to sponsor major Crop Over activities whilst promoting its Recognition Services during prime time movies shown from July to October.

• Sponsorship of Live TV Coverage of the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championships (BSSAC)

Sponsorship of the TVET Council World Skills Competition

• The Council was a Bronze sponsor for this competition which sought to highlight the competencies of students at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic and the Barbados Vocational Training Board.

Bus Wrap

• The bus wrap provided a direct view of the key services of the Council as it was mounted on one of the buses which travelled major routes such as Oistins to Bridgetown and return.

Side view of the Bus WrapFairchild Street Bus Terminal


Jingle

• A Jingle to promote the Council’s recognition services was commissioned and delivered by Island Moon Magic in .wav and mp3 formats. The jingle will be played during commercial advertising of the Council and other uses will be fully explored to ensure that the Council is widely known to the public.

Newspaper Features - Advertisements

• Special Adverts 5 Quarter page advertisements with BarbadosToday on the Council’s

Recognition Services - July – August, 2011

• Support for national events and occasions, namely:

Quarter Page Print Advertisement with the Barbados Advocate’s Special on Back to School – August, 2011

Quarter page Independence Feature advertisement with The Barbados Advocate and BarbadosToday – November 30

Quarter page advertisement with BarbadosToday for International Women’s Day – March 2012

Adopt a Stop

• This bus-stop serves a dual purpose in that it not only offers a welcoming shelter but also promotes the Council with its attractive colours of green and orange and comes with the “Fraudie Frog” design. The bus stop is located in Belleville near to the Government Hill roundabout.


(a) Educational Study Fairs/Expos

As customary, the Council also participated in the annual Barbados International College Fair held from November 7-8, 2011 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. This forum presents the ideal opportunity for the Council to showcase its services and offer timely advice to interested persons seeking to pursue programmes of study locally and overseas. Over 30 tertiary educational institutions, local and overseas, exhibited their programme offerings to secondary school students, their parents/guardians and the other members of the public. The Information Officer delivered a presentation which sought to encourage prospective students to seek the services of the Council before pursuing studies locally and abroad.

Eager Students at the BAC’s exhibition booth.Looking on is Ms. Katrina Ifill, Information Officer, BAC


(b) A-Neesh College Advising Fair

Members of the public also learnt further of the Council’s role and responsibilities through the A-Neesh College Advising Fair was held on November 12, 2011. This forum provided a one-stop shop for prospective students seeking to find the right institution and programme to pursue studies. The Information Officer delivered a presentation on the dangers of fraudulent tertiary educational providers and their qualifications.

(c) The St. Michael School’s Student Motivation Seminar – October 4, 2011

This annual seminar is hosted for the fifth form students of The St. Michael School. The whole-day event, held at Mpower Conference Centre, saw a number of presentations and exhibitions from various tertiary educational providers, businesses and the Barbados Guidance Counselors Association offering their services/products and advising the students on their intended study/career pursuits.

Each presenter was given the task of delivering a 5-minute power presentation in which they would inform, motivate and/or persuade the students in relation to educational services and courses/programmes of study offered by various providers.

Students listening attentively to Ms. Katrina Ifill,Information Officer, BAC


BAC Quality Assurance Day and Exhibition (Open Day)

The Council hosted its Quality Assurance (QA) Day on November 11, 2011. The aim of the QA Day was to provide a forum that not only would draw members of the public to the Council but also increase the educational awareness of the BAC and its services. Registered providers participated in the event which attracted students and members of the public to the exhibition of course offerings. The opportunity was also provided to the public to obtain free health checks by the Diabetes Association of Barbados. The Breast Screening Clinic also offered their services to interested members of the public.

The event attracted members of the public and a number of students from various secondary schools from the immediate environs who were provided with public literature and other information on programmes/courses of study available locally.

Students showing interest in the course offerings of the Registered Educational Providers

Members of the Barbados Cancer Society’s Mobile Breast Health Clinic offering their services to the public on Open Day


Registered tertiary educational providers showcased their course offerings and offered advice to the public and the students demonstrated their skills in the area of beauty care. The providers included REA Envirohealth International, Personal Body Health Care Clinic & School of Holistic Therapies, Insurance Institute of Barbados, Sab-Shan-Sadie School of Beauty and Salon, Pinnacle Safety Solutions and University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.

The Council appreciated the sponsorship of the Purity Bakeries, Barbados Public Workers Cooperative Credit Union, and Digicel. The Open Day had excellent media coverage.

Sponsorship of STARCOM Network’s Reading Room

• The Council showed support for the improvement of reading skills and abilities amongst the youth of Barbados through its sponsorship of this initiative. BAC memorabilia were also offered to the children who were present at the event.

Youth Leadership Conference: Invest in Your Future

• This Conference, hosted by Brainwave Consultants and endorsed by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, was held on November 10, 2011.

• The Council provided the opportunity for the youth to take advantage of this learning experience through its sponsorship of ten (10) students from one of the secondary schools.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION68. The period under review has certainly been an eventful and exciting year for the Barbados Accreditation Council.

69. The Council will be pressing ahead to forge stronger relationships with all its stakeholders as it seeks to implement key initiatives to enhance the tertiary education and training sector in Barbados.


NOTES


NOTES

Documents

Annual Report, 2011 2012