SOCIAL SECTOR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
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SUSTAINING GROWTH, SECURING PROSPERITY
CHAPTER 3: NATIONAL SOCIAL SITUATION
efficient National Innovation System and
creating a talent pool of Scientists, Technicians
and Researchers.
During the period June 2012 to June 2013,
MTESTwas comprised of the following agencies:
• The Accreditation Council of Trinidad and
Tobago (ACTT)
• College of Science, Technology and Applied
Arts of Trinidad and Tobago
• (COSTAATT)
• Metal Industries Company Limited (MIC)
• National Energy Skills Centre (NESC)
• National Training Agency (NTA)
• The Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and
Tourism Institute (TTHTI)
• The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)
• The University of the West Indies (UWI)
• The Youth Training and Employment
Partnership Programme (YTEPP)
Key achievements of the MTEST include:
• Launched, in July 2012, the Trinidad and
Tobago Research and Education Network
(TTRENT), and signed a Memorandum
of Understanding with UWI, UTT and
COSTAATT to establish guidelines for the
TTRENT. This initiative will connect all
post-secondary, tertiary level, research
institutions and agencies of TEST and
various other stakeholders, locally and
regionally. The National Research and
Education Network (NREN) will also allow
students and researchers to engage with
international
and
regional
e-learning
content. It is also expected that this initiative
will provide a national platform that will allow
Trinidad and Tobago to link with regional and
global networks in order to drive research
and development in the service of economic
activity and transformation;
• Hosted in collaboration with the Ministry
of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise
Development a one day Symposium on
Workforce Research and Development in
January2013.AMoUwasalsosignedbetween
the UWI and the Georgetown University for
the development of a Workforce Research
and Development Centre. This Workforce
Centre will help identify future labour market
needs of key industries and capture trends in
the labour market;
• Launched, in February 2013, the Caribbean
Research and Education Network (C@
ribNET), which offers local students,
researchers,
educators,
professional
and administrative staff of Tertiary Level
Institutions (TLIs) access to research and
education centres throughout the region
in a variety of areas including science and
technology, health, security and culture.
C@ribNET’s broadband, high-speed fibre-
optic infrastructure connects over 26 million
persons in at least 21 countries in the region;
• Launched, in March 2013, the Community
Engagement and Service Learning initiative
to encourage the concept of community
service amongst students and agencies;
• Launched, inMay2013, the radioprogramme
“What’s Your Profession” on 94.1 FM. This
programme is designed to facilitate the
dissemination of information related to
training programmes available under the
MTESTto enhance the skills of theworkforce;
• Signed an MOU with Microsoft Trinidad
and Tobago for the establishment of a local
arm of Microsoft’s youth in education and
entrepreneurshipproject,YouthSpark.Under
the agreement, Microsoft will provide access
to software solutions at State-operated
academic institutions, as well as training
for educators and students in the use of
solutions. Microsoft will also provide support
for other development programmes, such
as DreamSpark, BizSpark and Imagine Cup,
which will help young students and potential
business creators gain access to technology
to start a business;
• Launched in June 2013, the revised Life Skills
Curriculum, which culminated from national
stakeholder consultations. This curriculum
