EDITORIAL – Continuous learning key

Tourism workers have been invited to participate in the Barbados
Together Continuous E-learning Programme, a series of webinars
designed to help them upgrade or refresh their skills during the
downtime caused by COVID-19.

 As we all know, the tourism sector has been hardest hit by the
COVID-19 pandemic, with numerous workers having lost their jobs due to
shutdowns which have affected the hotel sector and the fact that
borders have been closed and visitors have long left our shores.

However, the Human Resources Development sub-committee of the Barbados
Recovery Tourism Task Force has seen it fit to give workers the
opportunity to re-tool, re-train and upgrade their skills, via this
Barbados Together Continuous E-Learning Programme. The session can
also be used to achieve certification and to help the island improve
its overall service quality and product offerings, and this is a step
in the right direction.
Indeed, continuous learning is key for every category of worker in
Barbados, whether in the tourism sector or not.

 According to Dr. Kerry Hall, Chairman of the Tourism Recovery Task
Force, workers – many of whom are without jobs now as a result of the
pandemic – will be equipped with the tools they need to assist in
taking the tourism industry to the next level when the sector
eventually reopens in the future. The mandate of the Continuous
E-Learning Programme, she says, is to provide recommendations for
planning, coordination and delivery of continuous human resource
development programmes, to prepare the front-line workforce for the
post COVID-19 re-opening period and beyond, and to outline
methodologies to improve service quality in a revitalised tourism and
hospitality sector.

The E-learning Programme incorporates a number of learning strategies
facilitated by technology, which will be incorporated with the
National Training Initiative, and one of the biggest objectives is
seeking to ensure that once the industry recovers, Barbados can have a
competitive advantage through its people and a renewed, re-tooled,
re-trained cadre of professional, technologically savvy, creative,
competent tourism workers.

 The programme also includes training for tourism leaders as well, and
will feature webinar sessions focusing on tackling the future of
tourism, maintaining physical and mental health, mastering leadership
during the pandemic and beyond, weathering change and also workplace
safety for tourism employees. Specifically, there will be a focus on
managing personal finances, leading in times of crisis and maintaining
physical and mental health.

 What we need to see now is other industries following in the
footsteps of the tourism sector, and putting programmes in place for
employees so they too can have an opportunity to re-tool and
replenish. Whilst companies are focusing on generating economic
activity as they reopen, there should still be some emphasis place on
doing business in a new and improved way, rather than simply reverting
to old norms.

 One thing the COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us is that we need to be
resilient, and indeed we need to keep our skills up to date if we are
to bounce back with vigour and have that competitive advantage needed
to thrive and advance in the future.

Barbados Advocate

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