By Abigayle McIntosh

Another component will be added shortly to further enhance the current offerings of the Lifelong Learning Unit at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus.

The LLU was established back in 2021 to cater to professional and mature individuals seeking to access higher education.

Outgoing Principal Professor Densil Williams said the plan, in the near future, is to add professional credits.

“So, when you take a course in our lifelong learning unit you can now be credited for that course and you can now use that credit to do whatever you want to do,”

“That credit is not going to last forever; it will last for maybe four to five years and you have to come and refresh yourself. But if you want to use that credit to cash it in on a degree program you can,” Professor Williams said.

He said that will be included in the pipeline and will perhaps be implemented by his successor.

Executive Director of the LLU Paula CM Lee stated there are no prerequisites required.

“Removing barriers to learning is one of the key objectives of The Lifelong Learning Unit, The UWI FIC. In almost two years of existence, more than 100 individuals have participated in the Harvard Credential of Readiness programme and several hundred have registered in the professional development short courses.

She explains the unit is training students for global competitiveness through robust and relevant programs and each student is offered an opportunity to increase their knowledge, improve their skills and become more marketable.

Lee said depending on the programme for which a student registers, upon successful completion one can earn a Harvard Credential of Readiness Certificate or a “Certificate of Proficiency”, The UWI FIC.

“Gaining confidence, strengthening one’s determination to study in higher education, and analyzing issues through different perspectives are additional positive outcomes that continuous education offers,” she said.

The UWI FIC is expanding to better serve the people of Antigua and Barbuda and the OECS. I believe that the Lifelong Learning Unit will remain a central medium that will meet the evolving needs of learners, employers, and the economy” she added.