Education connection

The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation stands ready to welcome students from India who wish to study at the American University of Barbados – School of Medicine.
Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, acknowledged the above as the American University of Barbados (AUB) recently hosted a team of education officers from India. While here in Barbados, they were able to tour the AUB’s new campus, located at the former BET Building in Wildey, St. Michael, and also finalise plans for the educational partnership which will see students from India studying here at the local medical institution.

The education officers not only met with the Minister of Education, but they had the opportunity to visit a number of local schools, given that Barbados is ranked amongst the top countries which offer excellent primary education. The officials also met with several secondary school principals to exchange information on the educational systems in both India and Barbados.

During a roundtable discussion held at the AUB, ahead of the departure of the educational officials, Jones noted the strides the university has made in the last five-and-a-half years, stating that the Ministry is now eager to see linkages created between India and Barbados, commencing with this educational partnership.

He also sought to assure the Indian delegation that local educational officials, along with those at the AUB, stand ready to do all in their power to ensure that
students from India can thrive here in Barbados in a comfortable, safe and secure environment.

“We look to welcome students to Barbados and to the AUB of course and hopefully, over time, we will see that fertilisation and that development and what you would call the linkages being created,” Minister Jones told those gathered.

“At the same time, we see not only medical education, but education across the board as an important economic (pillar) in our country, that can augur well for us,” he added.

Associate Dean of the AUB, Dr. Syed Kazmi, meanwhile told The Barbados Advocate that the AUB’s directors definitely want to have the connection between India and Barbados established, as they have invested in the AUB and want to see some of the vast knowledge offered at top medical schools there, also shared with students at the American University of Barbados.