New Campus + 8 Initiatives to better TCICC Experience

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, April 21, 2022 – A new Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Campus is on the way for Providenciales, the change in home for the indigenous tertiary level institution was announced on Tuesday April 12, 2022 by Clara Gardiner, interim President of the TCICC.

“It’s going to be a work in progress but it is much needed to improve the teaching and learning space and to give the TCICC a proper home and to enhance the visibility of the Turks and Caicos islands premier tertiary education institution.”

As the government aims to make learning accessible for a larger cross section of the population, it is planning to improve on offerings as well.

Gardiner mentioned eight initiatives underway at the TCICC including an review which she says will give them ‘A new organisational structure designed to make the institution more efficient.’ The second is a recruiting drive for new positions, the third is a curriculum review.

“We have adopted a more intentional approach to aligning our programs and diversifying our course offerings to meet current and future labour market needs.” she said.

The fourth initiative is a partnership with several agencies including The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, BTVI and the UWI Mona campus, using Inter-health Canada’s Hospital status to benefit the medical for graduates of the nursing program.

There will also be a partnership with FortisTCI to support the development electrical students and there is a partnership with an overseas university to foster the Sports Tourism.

According to Gardiner, all students will now be required to take a technical elective while enrolled at TCICC; everyone hopefully emerging at graduation with their core subject and a trade skill.

The fifth initiative involved expanding the Information Technology, IT and online systems before next semester which Gardiner describes as ‘critical’.

The sixth initiative was the reviving of the Alumni Association.

The seventh was the aforementioned new campus and the eighth initiative, said Clara Gardiner, is free tuition.

In the virtual press announcement, Rachael Taylor, the Minister of Education, Youth & Sports encouraged students to make use of the opportunities to better themselves.