“CARICOM [Technical and Vocational Education and Training – TVET] institutions needed a practical, regionally owned pathway to accelerate digital transformation, not borrowed models, but solutions built for CARICOM Member States.”
These were the sentiments expressed by Dr Denise Stoney-James, Deputy Programme Manager for Education at the CARICOM Secretariat and Project Manager for the Digitalisation of TVET Delivery Project, during the virtual closing ceremony a few weeks ago.
Dr. Stoney-James underscored that the project represents what is possible when complementary strengths are harnessed in service of a shared regional goal: “This initiative sought to harness digital technology to transform Technical and Vocational Education and Training across the Caribbean. It reflects the power of regional cooperation and the importance of solutions tailored to our own realities.”
Delivering Tangible Results through a Regional Partnership Driving Digital Transformation
The Digitalisation of TVET Delivery Project was built on a trilateral cooperation model that united the CARICOM Secretariat, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, and regional institutions. Through this collaboration, three online learning units were developed and tailored specifically for CARICOM learners, while instructors, monitors, instructional designers, and focal points across Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago received training to sustain digital delivery well beyond the project’s lifespan.
Culturally relevant digital learning materials were also produced, featuring CARICOM instructors and examples that resonate with local contexts. To support these resources, technical infrastructure and governance systems were established to ensure sustainable delivery, and courses were integrated into national platforms to guarantee country ownership. Incentive programmes encouraged enrolment among women and marginalised groups, while regional exchanges and communities of practice strengthened peer learning and knowledge sharing.
Building Sustainable Impact
The outcomes were significant. Regional capacity for digital TVET delivery was meaningfully enhanced, with four pilot countries successfully integrating solutions into their own platforms. A sustainable, country-owned model was established, reducing reliance on external support and strengthening resilience.
The project also established the technical and institutional foundations for future scaling, with additional Member States already signalling readiness to adopt the model.
Dr. Stoney-James emphasised that together, these achievements demonstrate how strategic cooperation and regional ownership can drive lasting transformation. “The project not only delivered immediate results but also created the conditions for sustainable expansion, positioning CARICOM TVET systems to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy,” she stated.
Lessons Learned
The initiative highlighted that institutional readiness matters more than technology. While digital solutions can be transferred quickly, sustainability depends on national ownership, flexible implementation pathways, and alignment with institutional maturity.
“Sustainable digital transformation depends not only on the solutions we build, but on the capacity of institutions to adopt, own, and sustain them over time,” affirmed Dr. Stoney-James.
CARICOM TVET systems have long faced structural challenges that limited their ability to keep pace with global shifts. Access to high-quality digital training and Industry 4.0 content has remained scarce, with significant variations in institutional capacity across Member States. While some institutions were making advances, many were still establishing foundational systems.
An equally pressing issue was the absence of learning content tailored to the CARICOM reality. In many cases, materials did not align with CARICOM Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) or reflect the needs of regional labour markets, resulting in a gap between training and the skills employers require.
At the same time, demand for digital and technical expertise was accelerating. Economic diversification, increased competitiveness, and the rise of technology-enabled workplaces created an urgent need for a decisive regional response.
The Digitalisation of TVET Delivery Project was conceived to address these challenges by reducing disparities, building institutional capacity, and creating content rooted in CARICOM contexts. The initiative has provided a timely and strategic pathway to strengthen regional resilience and equip learners with skills demanded by a rapidly evolving economy.
The CARICOM Secretariat, in collaboration with the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA), developed the Digitalisation of TVET Delivery project in November 2022 in response to the Call for Proposals from the Trilateral Technical Cooperation between Brazil, the European Union (EU) and Germany. Subsequently, the HRD Programme of the CARICOM Secretariat secured €700,000 in technical support from the Trilateral Technical Cooperation to implement the project in CANTA Member States.
The Brazilian National Service for Industrial Training (SENAI), a non-profit organization, considered one of the largest TVET institutions in the world, is a project partner and will lead the process of converting traditional TVET offerings to online programmes.
The Operational Planning Phase was initiated through a series of virtual project-refining meetings with the CARICOM Secretariat, CANTA, SENAI, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency – ABC, and the German Cooperation for Sustainable Development – GIZ, and one face-to-face workshop convened in Brasilia, Brazil, from 26 to 30 June 2023.
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