BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – EDUCATIONAL opportunities in St. Kitts have been enhanced with the creation of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI)/Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) Video Conference Centre.
The state-art-of-the-art centre houses a teleconferencing unit that is capable of sending and receiving transmissions around the world. At a ceremony held yesterday (Apr. 29) at CFBC’s campus, the centre was officially opened in the presence of Ministry of Education officials, CFBC staff and present students as well as past alumni of the UVI.
With the technology, persons taking courses at the CFBC will be able to receive instructions from professors from universities across the world. Additionally, private sector representatives and government officials will be able to use the centre for conferences with their regional and international counterparts.
The move comes at a time of significance for both entities, as the UVI is celebrating its 47th anniversary and the CFBC is initiating plans to become a full-fledged university. The idea to construct the centre was conceived in 2005 and, according to Project Coordinator Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson, it is the longstanding link between the two institutions (the UVI and the CFBC) that confirmed the decision.
“St. Kitts has the largest number of UVI alums in the Eastern Caribbean. Additionally, several members of the UVI Executive are helping the CFBC in its transition to a full-fledged university. The creation of the centre is consistent with the UVI’s mission to educate students in the USVI and the entire Caribbean. It is a giant step in transforming the education experience in the eastern Caribbean,” he said.
Jones-Hendrickson said it was “essential” to invest in the skills, credentials and knowledge base of persons throughout the region. He stressed the importance of trying new approaches and being creative and resourceful in thinking.
“We must engage in paradigmatic shifts in our learning, thinking and teaching. We have to modernise our resources and move from a zero comfort level and challenge ourselves. It is critical that we advance the learning progress of our students, the development of our institutions and the rest of our region,” he noted.
The UVI donated the equipment for the centre, and the room was refurbished by regional telecommunications giant LIME, the Ministry of Education and the CFBC. LIME also committed itself to sponsoring the continuous internet connection that would be required by the centre.
Minister of Education the Hon. Sam Condor expressed his pride at the venture and thanked the UVI, LIME and the CFBC staff for their contributions to the project. He stated that with the government’s vision, and with assistance from generous local and regional partners, the education sector in St. Kitts and Nevis would only continue to expand and improve.
