News > Higher Learning and Development Link Explored
Higher Learning and Development Link Explored The College of The Bahamas is a crucial piece of development infrastructure because of its capacity to bring innovation to industries through skilled human capital, provide solutions to socio-economic challenges and shape national development, according to the President of The College of The Bahamas Janyne M. Hodder who appeared as a recent guest on the JCN programme The Platform. The link between institutions of higher learning and their development potential was explored at several recent international conferences including the Commonwealth Education Minister's Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the UNESCO World Conference on Education in Paris, France, both of which Ms. Hodder attended. At the Malaysia conference President Hodder participated in a Vice Chancellors Forum on accreditation and quality control while at the conference in Paris she contributed to a round table discussion on the social responsibility of universities. The strategic plan for The College of The Bahamas, in transition to become a university, calls for the institution to be the primary driver for national development. "My philosophy is a university is a fundamental infrastructure development and it is as crucial to development as having roads, as having a communication system and having a health system," she said, "as it must be seen as a kind of investment in development and not as an elite outsider institution for individual benefit, as opposed to national benefit." She admitted, however, that the challenge is merging that vision – which defies traditionally held beliefs – with public policy. "Traditionally there was a sense that higher education is of personal benefit to a restricted group of lucky people or smart people. It hasn't necessarily been embraced as a development tool across the board by policy makers or by the public," President Hodder added. "There was a notion that if my child does not go to university then why should I care about a university. Well they should aspire to go to university. That is the only place where people care about getting rid of the lion fish, green technology, more sustainable fisheries, decreasing dependency on foreign dollars, increasing food production." She identified a number of fundamental challenges including increasing the numbers of young persons between the ages of 18 and 20 who choose to pursue a tertiary education. In The Bahamas the participation rate in higher education for this age group is around 14 percent, while in the region it hovers around 25 percent and in the United Kingdom it is approximately 50 percent. Additionally, many graduates of the local secondary school system are ill-prepared to enter university and fail the minimum entry requirements, hence the need for The College to maintain its college preparatory programme. President Hodder added that poverty is a factor that also needs to be taken into consideration when one considers why these students are ill-prepared for higher learning. The College is awaiting the enabling legislation to give effect to its transition to university. In the meantime, it has already made institutional and academic advancements to support its university evolution. This year the vast majority of the over 400 graduates from various programmes earned baccalaureate degrees over associate degrees, certificates and other diplomas. There is an aggressive capital development programme that includes a new $10 million Northern Bahamas Campus in Grand Bahama and Harry C. Moore Library & Information Centre at the main campus in Oakes Field – both under construction – a new Performing Arts Centre, Wellness Centre and Poultry Research Centre and network infrastructure upgrade that is underway. There is diversity in student life as students can study abroad on an international experience at colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The athletics programme has undergone an evolution of its own with a three-pronged focus on intercollegiate, extracurricular and sports and wellness activities. In one of the most heralded achievements in its mission of supporting and driving national development through education, research & innovation and service, The College also expects to launch in Fall 2009 its Small Island Sustainability programme, offering bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in critical areas of sustainability. The programme is funded by a $10 million grant from the Freedom Foundation and the enrolment deadline for Fall is July 31st. "Initially we used to provide professionals for an existing labour market or The College was a launching pad. Now we are thinking about developing the kinds of degrees that can support and drive national development locally like the Small Island Sustainability programme. The goal is to generate graduates who will generate economic activity and development and actually shape national development. That is quite different from being a launching pad for other universities," President Hodder said.
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