Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, has commended the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) for its role in assuring quality in higher education in Jamaica.
“CCCJ… continues to play an instrumental role in advancing higher education through programme, curriculum, assessment design and development, certification and awards,” she said.
“Through innovative approaches, the Council has expanded programme offerings to reflect the diversity and flexibility required in today’s education landscape,” she noted.
Minister Williams was addressing the opening of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) World Congress hosted by the CCCJ, at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, St. James, on September 25.
Minister Williams credited the CCCJ for the introduction of micro-credential courses, which she noted, are a testament to the island’s commitment to lifelong learning and a recognition that education must be agile, accessible and aligned with the current demands of the workforce.
“These stackable credentials offer learners at all stages of life the chance to build upon their skills incrementally, creating pathways for continuous growth,” she noted.
Mrs. Williams also highlighted the CCCJ’s partnership with the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) in advancing educational equivalency across institutions.
“This partnership creates new pathways for students to earn bachelor’s degrees through our colleges and polytechnics, strengthening the alignment between tertiary-level programmes and creating greater resource sharing across higher education institutions in Jamaica,” she pointed out.
“Such collaborations are critical as we work towards building a seamless and robust educational ecosystem that serves the diverse needs of our students and the industries that they themselves will lead one day,” Mrs. Williams said.
The World Congress brought together global experts and professionals to collaborate, share insights, and catalyse transformative change in the education landscape.
Mrs. Williams expressed the hope that the discussions would not only shape policies and practices within the island’s institutions “but also echo throughout the global educational community”.
The WFCP is an international network of colleges and associations of colleges.
The organisation provides leadership in delivering workforce education for the global economy, and members share leading-edge education strategies and best practices to increase workforce employability in countries around the world.
The congress was held from September 25 to September 27 under the theme ‘Empower, Equip, Excel’.