The final signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT) and the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM), Ireland, signals Government’s desire to formalise its commitment and reaffirm its vision of providing access to accreditation for medical education institutions.
Minister of State in the Ministry, Sandra Husbands, made this assertion yesterday at the virtual MOU signing, in the Ministry’s Media Resource Department Auditorium, Constitution Road, St. Michael. She stated that Government is committed to ensuring that the education provided in this country meets global standards.
“Today, this event marks a pivotal moment in the Barbados Government’s ongoing efforts to foster collaboration and to provide additional choices for accreditation to the medical education institutions operating here in Barbados.
“For this Ministry, the accreditation of medical schools is of utmost importance, since it will ultimately benefit our partners in education, stakeholders, and the communities we serve. This partnership will allow us to share best practices, resources, and expertise, ensuring that our accreditation processes are rigorous and relevant,” she said.
Ms. Husbands believes that the aim of the Government, in fostering this collaboration, is to create an environment that promotes educational excellence, professional development, and a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
She added that accreditation is not merely a stamp of approval, but it also signals quality and trust, and urged stakeholders to remember that this is just the beginning.
“Barbados’ commitment to excellence will guide our efforts as we build a lasting partnership focused on open communication, shared accountability, and mutual respect. The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training looks forward to working with ACCM, as we continue to establish global standards for all medical institutions operating on our shores.”
The Minister also expressed gratitude to the teams in Barbados and Ireland who were involved in the preparatory work leading up to the culmination of the MOU signing.
She commended them for their hard work and commitment to the process, and highlighted the contributions made by Deputy Permanent Secretary in METVT, Deborah Dowridge, the offices of the Solicitor General, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Barbados Accreditation Council, and the Ministry’s Tertiary Section.
“You have made this agreement possible, and I’m confident that it will lead to fruitful outcomes for all the parties involved. I look forward to witnessing the positive impacts coming from our collaboration,” she said.
ACCM, Ireland, was represented by Professor Hilary Sanfey. Professor Sanfey echoed the sentiments of Minister Husbands and expressed her appreciation to Deputy Permanent Secretary Dowridge for her assistance and patience in assisting her organisation in navigating the process.
“As you know, ACCM is an independent non-profit organisation based in the Republic of Ireland, and we act on behalf of a number of governments, in relation to the accreditation of medical education programmes leading to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and in the majority of medical schools currently under accreditation by ACC (American College of Cardiology Accreditation Services).
“The student body is drawn predominantly from North America, where the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is the recognised authority for the accreditation of medical education. Therefore, we have developed standards that are closely aligned with those of the LCME, and we have been granted recognition by the World Federation for Medical Education for a period of 10 years,” she explained.
Present for the virtual signing were representatives from METVT, ACCM, Barbados Accreditation Council, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. The first MOU signing took place in September of this year, and this was the final MOU signing for medical education purposes. (PR/GIS)
Caption: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training(METVT), Sandra Husbands signing the final MOU, while Quality Assurance Officer with the Barbados Accreditation Council, Karen Collins (left) and Administrative Officer with the METVT, Tracey Squires-Clarke (centre), look on.
