The use of Industry Recognized Certifications to Develop the Technical Skills Required to Rebuild the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian and the Global Pandemic

Robert W. Robertson*
Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, England.
Periodicity:June - August'2022
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.17.1.18995

Abstract

Individuals, organizations, and countries have had to address the unprecedented and dramatic impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic from a health, economic, education, and societal perspective. An added challenge in the Bahamas is related to the significant impact of Hurricane Dorian, which struck the Northern Bahamas in the fall of 2019, devastating the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama. This paper assesses the efforts within the Bahamas to recover from the dual impacts of the pandemic and the hurricane. In particular, the paper addresses the importance of developing the workforce-ready skills required to meet the national skill gap and the critical needs of businesses as a key part of the recovery efforts and preparing for the world of work post-pandemic. Specifically, the paper utilizes the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) to provide examples of developing and delivering key, in-demand, industrycertified workforce trade-related skills in traditional on-campus formats and increasingly using online and blended modalities in response to Hurricane Dorian and the global pandemic. The paper uses a mixed methods approach of a survey and interviews of participants completing an accelerated, certified, pilot skills training initiative. Overall, research results indicated that respondents were very satisfied with the training and suggested improvements was identified.

Keywords

Skills Gap, Industry Certification, Bahamas, Trades Training, Online Education, Globally Competitive.

How to Cite this Article?

Robertson, R. W. (2022). The use of Industry Recognized Certifications to Develop the Technical Skills Required to Rebuild the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian and the Global Pandemic. i-manager’s Journal on Management, 17(1), 9-18. https://doi.org/10.26634/jmgt.17.1.18995

References

[1]. Adderley, M. (2019). Only 46% Leave High School with a Diploma. Retrieved from http://www.tribune242.com/news/2019/jun/13/only-46-leave-high-school-diploma/
[2]. Clark, S. (2020). Closing the Skills Gap. Retrieved from https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/education/closing-the-skills-gap
[3]. ECMC Group. (2021). Experts Agree: The Skills Gap is now a National Emergency; Reversing it is “the Work of Our Lives”. Retrieved from https://www.ecmcgroup.org/news/group/experts-agree-the-skills-gap-is-now-anational-emergency-reversing-it-is-the-work-of-our-lives
[4]. Government of Canada. (2020). Canada-A Learning Nation a Skilled, Agile Workforce Ready to Shape the Future. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/esdc-edsc/documents/programs/future-skills/report-learning-nation/Future-Skills-Council-Report-EN.pdf
[5]. Government of the Bahamas. (2011). The Bahamas. Retrieved from https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/portal/public/About%
[6]. Inter-American Development Bank. (2019). Damages and other Impacts on the Bahamas by Hurricane Dorian Estimated at $3.4 Billion. Retrieved from https://www.iadb.org/en/damages-and-other-impactsbahamas-hurricane-dorian-estimated-34-billion-report
[7]. Inter-American Development Bank. (2022). Assessment of the Effects and Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Bahamas. Retrieved from https:// publications.iadb.org/en/assessment-effects-andimpacts-covid-19-pandemic-bahamas
[8]. Kemp, Y. (2022). Gov't to Decide on Baker's Bay's 'Global Workforce'. Retrieved from http://www.tribune242.com/news/2022/may/05/govt-decide-bakers-baysglobal-workforce/
[9]. Miller, P. (2022). Can Online Learning Boost College Retention Rates? Retrieved from https://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/opinion-can-online-learning-boost-college-retention-rates
[10]. Mineer, D. (2022). Construction Industry Facing National Skills Gap. Retrieved from https://www.constructionmonitor.com/blog/2022/02/15/constructionindustry-facing-national-skills-gap/
[11]. National Center for Construction Education and Research. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nccer.org/about-us/mission-vision-and-core-values
[12]. NCCER. (2020). Industry Certification Helps Bridge Skills Gap in the Bahamas. Retrieved from https://www.nccer.org/news-research/newsroom/Article/industr ycertification-helps-bridge-skills-gap-in-the-bahamas
[13]. Payares-Montaya, D. (2022). After COVID, Community Colleges Must Focus on Improving Online Courses. Retrieved from https://www.ppic.org/blog/aftercovid-community-colleges-must-focus-on-improvingonline-courses/
[14]. PR Newswire. (2022). 2U Unveils New Partnership Model to Increase Access and Affordability in Higher Education, Embracing edX's Flexible Approach to Degree Support. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2u-unveils-new-partnership-modelto-increase-access-and-affordability-in-higher-education-embracing-edxs-flexible-approach-to-degreesupport-301595944.html
[15]. Robertson, R. & Darville, A. (2020). Responding to covid-19 and hurricane Dorian: Building key skills for the 21st century technical and vocational workforce in the Bahamas. Florida Political Chronicle-Journal of Florida Political Science Association, 27(2), 14-21.
[16]. Robertson, R. W. (2021). Bridging the skill gap in the Bahamas: Perceptions of employers. i-manager's Journal on Management, 15(3), 7-17. 10.26634/jmgt.15.3.17677
[17]. Rolle, L. (2020). Moore's Island has been forgotten. Retrieved from http://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/oct/28/moores-island-has-been-forgotten/
[18]. Sigelman, M., Taska, B., O'Kane, L., Nitschke, J., Rainer, S., Baier J., Breitling, F. & Kotsis, A. (2022). Shifting Skills, Moving Targets: Remaking the Workforce. Retrieved from https://www.bcg.com/publications/2022/shiftingskills-moving-targets-remaking-workforce
[19]. Smith, J. (2022). Skills Shortage is Crippling Australia- Here's how to plug the Gaps. Retrieved from https://www.hcamag.com/au/specialisation/recruitment/skills-shortage-is-crippling-australia-heres-how-to-plug-the-gaps/322395
[20]. Society for Human Resource Management. (2019). The Global Skills Shortage: Bridging The Talent Gap With Education, Training And Sourcing. Retrieved from https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/trends-and-forecasting/research-and-surveys/documents/shrm%20skills%20gap%202019.pdf
[21]. Song, V. (2021). COVID-19 Has Widened the Skills Gap. But It Also Presents an Opportunity to Close It. Retrieved from https://www.edsurge.com/news/2021-02-01-covid-19-has-widened-the-skills-gap-but-it-also-presents-an-opportunity-to-close-it
[22]. The Council of Industry. (2012). OECD Skills Report: Skills Gap Exists in all OECD Countries, Narrowing Gap is Key to Future Growth. Retrieved from https://www.councilofindustry.org/oecd-skills-report-skills-gap-exists-in-alloecd-countries-narrowing-gap-is-key-to-future-growth/
[23]. Vision 2040 Bahamas. (2016). The National Development Plan of the Bahamas. Retrieved from https://www.vision2040bahamas.org/media/uploads/Draft__National_Development_Plan_01.12.2016_for_public_release.pdf
[24]. World Economic Forum. (2022). 6 World of Work Trends set to Shape 2022. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/6-world-of-work-trendsthat-will-shape-2022/
If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Single Article

North Americas,UK,
Middle East,Europe
India Rest of world
USD EUR INR USD-ROW
Online 15 15

Options for accessing this content:
  • If you would like institutional access to this content, please recommend the title to your librarian.
    Library Recommendation Form
  • If you already have i-manager's user account: Login above and proceed to purchase the article.
  • New Users: Please register, then proceed to purchase the article.