UWI and Belize Chamber of Commerce sign a Memorandum of Understanding
The reps from the University of the West Indies also signed a Memo of Understanding with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry to formalize training for the private sector. The MOU has five areas of collaboration, including: capacity-building through public education, research and data analysis, policy development, and regional integration. The agreement will also open doors enhance the services offered by the private sector.
Luz Longsworth, Dir., Open Campus, UWI
luz longsworth
“Industry-university partnerships not just on a national level but on a local community based level have proven to turn around economies. There are case of cities that were dying and the university goes in with the research, the partnership, with the entrepreneurs and then you marry the two things and it is to the benefit of the entire community, the academics tend to be thinking out there, but the private sector are the doers. And we’ve not been able in the Caribbean I think able to pull the two together successfully and that’s why I see this as a historic moment for Belize and the region.”
jane bennett
Jane Bennett, Dir., UWI Open Campus, Belize
“We have the information and the expertise but we want B.C.C.I. to go to their membership and say what are your needs? How can we as an educational institution meet the needs of the community at the level of your membership? And this is where traditionally we offer certain types of programs and now we realize that in the twenty-first century, we need to go to the membership, to the people and have you tell us what your needs are.”
Kay Menzies, President, BCCI
kay menzies
“I think anybody that has a particular skill set out there that is marketable and people are demanding—whether it is to produce a product; anything from Johnny cakes to small TVs. If you are into service provision of any kind, go for it. I think we have a tendency to set limits on ourselves and I think at this point we need to recognize that any skill you have, work to develop it and you can make something tremendous of it and that’s what we are here for is to develop that skill, make it marketable and make sure that you can benefit yourself and in the long term, the economy.”
The training will provide opportunities for to those persons who want to venture into entrepreneurship.
alberto young
Alberto Young, V.P., Commerce, BCCI
“Private sector requires information from over educational institutions like the UWI. I could tell you that our company has engaged the UWI in many research and project and it has been very valuable resource for us and I can only see the relationship being beneficial for both. I think that this is about moving things forward and education is core to that. We train people to go look for a job instead of go develop new industries and I think that that is a right move for both organizations.”
Jane Bennett
“Traditionally we go to school to get a job, now let’s go to school to start our own business and that’s where B.C.C.I. comes into play. So you as a private individual this is your company, they should be servicing your needs but you have to step up to the plate.”
Kay Menzies
“They have students that need to do certain thesis and research projects and at that point, our membership might just be the fertile ground they are looking for to get those items. And on the other side of things, as an entrepreneur, I might be able to produce the product I’m producing or deliver the service I am delivering, but I’m not too sure how to work my finances, do my accounting things like that, but I don’t have time to go to school to do a full program. I just a little bit of brushing up. So from that perspective, we’re looking at a very flexible arrangement where we can work with each other and say look, and the training programs are already happening, but to take it even deeper and say we will provide what it needs to get that entrepreneur on to the next level.”
Chamber members who enroll in the programme will benefit from special prices. Details can be had from UWI campus on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City.
