The UWI Global Campus and NESC-TI pioneer TVET transformation with eXtended Reality (XR) Technologies, following a major competition win.

The UWI Global Campus, Digital Learning Innovation. Tuesday, December 12, 2023 — In a landmark move following their triumph as the 1st prize winners in a high profile TVET competition, the National Energy Skills Centre Technical Institute (NESC - TI) of Trinidad and Tobago, represented by Mr. Kofi Toney, Senior Manager, Curriculum and Teaching Services, NESC-TI has embarked on a pioneering collaboration with The University of the West Indies Global Campus (UWIGC), Digital Learning Innovation (DLI) Unit led by Mrs. Karen Rosemin, Head DLI.

This strategic collaboration follows NESC-TI's notable victory at the 6th International Conference on Technical, Vocational Education and Training in the Caribbean, held in Kingston, Jamaica in May 2023, and marks the beginning of a transformative journey in TVET education in Trinidad and Tobago.

The primary focus is to enhance Trinidad and Tobago's skills training in the energy sector. This sector is pivotal to the national economy and has demonstrated considerable growth, with recent trends indicating a complex but promising landscape for natural gas production and export revenue. The application of advanced, immersive eXtended Reality (XR) technologies aims to elevate the quality and effectiveness of training in this integral sector.

The NESC-TI team was introduced to the potential of XR technology by the DLI in an energetic meeting held on November 2, 2023 at NESC-TI’s compound at Point Lisas. This cutting-edge technology, renowned for creating realistic, interactive training environments, is expected to revolutionize TVET training in the country. XR technologies in TVET promise enhanced engagement, superior knowledge retention, and the capability to simulate real-world scenarios in a risk-free setting.

The collaboration gained practical momentum with specialized training sessions led by Mr. Riaz Baldeo, Digital Strategist and Training Specialist, DLI. These sessions concentrated on utilizing XR tools to develop both augmented and virtual reality lessons, emphasizing the creation of 3D and 360-degree immersive learning experiences. This initiative is geared towards enriching NESC-TI’s educational offerings, aligning with the nation's growing demand for highly skilled professionals in the energy sector.

This collaboration represents a significant leap in integrating state-of-the-art technology into TVET, setting a new benchmark for technical education in the Caribbean. It exemplifies the commitment to educational innovation and signifies a promising future for technical and vocational training in the Region.

The UWI Global Campus remains committed to nurturing such innovative partnerships, enhancing the capabilities of educators and educational institutions across the Caribbean.

Mr. Adrian Dipchand, Subject Matter Expert at the National Energy Skills Centre – Technical Institute (NESC-TI) experiencing Virtual Reality content provided by UWI Global Campus, Digital Learning Innovation (UWIGC DLI).

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years.

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old). The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu.