15 March 2024 by Caribbean News Editor Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) and Green Solutions International SKN Incorporated (GSI) proudly announce a transformative partnership to establish the Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Research, Innovation, and Workforce Training. This pioneering initiative will be unveiled on 9th April 2024 and aims to position St. Kitts and the wider Caribbean region at the forefront of sustainable innovation and skilled workforce development. The Centre, which will focus on solar photovoltaic (PV) installation and electric vehicles (EV) maintenance and repairs, will be housed within the College’s Technical Vocational Education and Management Studies (TVEMS) Division.
The project will begin with a six-week “Train-the-Trainer” workshop, featuring five weeks of online, self-paced instruction and a one-week face-to-face, hands-on practical component. As the regional hub for training in solar PV installation and EV maintenance and repairs, the Centre will fill a significant gap in the Eastern Caribbean, where comparable comprehensive PV and EV training and services are scarce.
Funded by the GEF (Global Environment Facility) Small Grants Programme at an estimated cost of US$116,900, the training will be offered free the first time around for CFBC to build its capacity to sustain the project. The partnership between CFBC and GSI was formalised through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on 20th November 2023.
The Centre and its associated initiatives represent a major stride towards realising a sustainable energy future for the Caribbean region. By equipping local and regional professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to innovate and implement sustainable energy solutions, the Centre aims to drive economic growth, enhance environmental protection, and improve the quality of life across the region.
A Sustainable Future for the Caribbean
In March 2023, GSI entered into an exclusive international partnership agreement with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners® (NABCEP®) to establish NABCEP Caribbean, the first regional solar energy training and development hub. Notably, NABCEP’s PV Installation Professional (PVIP®) Certification is accredited to the internationally recognized ISO/IEC 17024 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Commenting on the launch of the Centre, Dr Wayne E. Archibald, Executive Director, GSI, said, “I am thrilled to announce the establishment of the Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Research, Innovation and Workforce Training with our valued partner, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College. This initiative represents a collaborative effort to drive innovation, foster research excellence, and empower the Caribbean workforce sustainably. The Centre will raise the standard for solar installations and maintenance and increase employability opportunities for talented, qualified Caribbean nationals in one of the fastest-growing industries, regionally and internationally. This pivotal step has the potential to unlock the region’s full renewable energy capacity.”
“The programmes offered at the Centre will be certified by esteemed bodies such as NABCEP and the Institute of the Motor Industry. Earlier this year, GSI partnered with EINTAC, an IMI training provider in the United Kingdom, to introduce internationally recognised electric vehicle training to the Caribbean.
As a reputable authority in the global electric and hybrid vehicle market, we are pleased to welcome them as collaborators on this project,” remarked Dr Archibald.
Key objectives of the Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Research, Innovation and Workforce Training include:
- Promoting Innovation: The Centre will provide a platform for professionals, entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses to collaborate and innovate to address regional challenges.
- Advancing Research: Recognising the importance of research in driving progress and informing policymaking, the Centre will support research initiatives focused on sustainability.
- Strengthening the Workforce: The Centre will focus on bridging the skills gap and fostering lifelong learning in the renewable energy industry. It will offer a range of workforce development programmes designed to equip individuals with the skills and competencies needed to create a sustainable region. These vocational training courses will help provide pathways to empower the Caribbean workforce and enhance employability in the ‘green economy’.
Dr Tamu Petra Browne, Chair of the CFBC Board of Directors, emphasised the significance of this initiative to the College, stating, “Very early in my tenure as Board Chair in 2023, I advanced two initiatives, a Green Campus initiative and a Blue Ocean initiative, the latter in the context of one of the Pillars of the Board of Governors of the institution – 21st Century Competitive Academic Programmes fit for Context and Community. The MOU with GSI sits nicely at the intersection. We expect to be a leader in building regional capacity for the sustainability thrust in the Caribbean. Our positioning as a hub for renewable energy training provides the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College with a competitive advantage in the academic space.”
She continued, “The partnership with GSI is one step on the pathway of regionalisation harmonisation of tertiary education at the community college level, which the Board of Governors anticipates as an imperative next step for fostering economies of scale and exponential growth of emerging skills training in the OECS region so that we are not lagging behind our developed nation counterparts. We desire to equip our nationals with skills to improve their standard of living masterfully and, by extension, provide sustainable economic growth in our island states.”
About Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College
Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College is a leading institution in St. Kitts dedicated to providing high-quality academic, professional, and vocational courses and programmes. Focusing on innovation, research, and workforce development, the college plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Caribbean through sustainable development and capacity building.
About Green Solutions International SKN Inc
Green Solutions International SKN Incorporated is a non-governmental organization committed to helping countries in the Caribbean achieve sustainability. Through capacity building, project development, education and training, the organization supports the region’s transition to renewable energy sources, promoting environmental sustainability and resilience against climate change.
