Cipriani College Highlights Skills Training For Changing Labour Market
As the labour market continues to evolve and demand for skilled professionals grows, the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies is rising to the challenge by bridging the gap between education and the changing workforce.
On Friday, the college brought together recent graduates, career changers and exhibitors at its Open Day to showcase academic programmes and career opportunities, while providing both educational and practical exposure.
The event also highlighted the importance of skills training tailored to the shifting labour market, with the college stressing that today’s workforce demands more than academic qualifications.
Programme Dean for Cooperative Studies, Collin Bartholomew, said the department is focused on upskilling, retooling and certifying members of the cooperative movement, from credit unions to agriculture, fishing and service cooperatives.
“Now the sector locally is $19 billion and consists of over 300 cooperatives, both financial and non-financial.”
He explained that students are increasingly seeking training in governance, finance and leadership.
“As with every other business, you need to be equipped with the tools and the skills to be able to manage a business. And every member of a cooperative is also an owner of a cooperative. So persons who become involved in cooperatives, they then realise that this is about their business. So they need to come in, upskill themselves, look at areas in finance, look at areas in management, look at areas in terms of leadership, strategic development, look at areas even in terms of governance.”
Officer-In-Charge of the Stakeholder Relations Department, Melissa Henry, said this year’s Open Day also saw the launch of the college’s Acceleration Programme short courses, aimed at helping working professionals strengthen their skills and advance their careers.
“If you are in a field for about 20 and 15 years and you are looking for a programme in order to move or be promoted or you are looking to transition into a different career, the accelerated programme is a short course programme that will allow you to be accelerated in another level in your career path.”
She added that the event also presented opportunities for CSEC candidates who did not secure a full certificate, giving them a pathway to continue their studies.
“What we do is we have courses that allow you to support the fact that you may not have gotten all your CSEC passes. You’ll be able to do developmental courses that will move you from an introductory programme to the certificate, to the diploma and eventually your degree.”
