Ministry of Education and George Brown College Announce Transformative Partnership for Tertiary Education and Student Development

The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, and George Brown College, a renowned institution in Toronto, Canada, are excited to announce a transformative partnership aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation in tertiary and career-oriented education.

This dynamic partnership will support education transformation, as well as talent and skills development. To launch the partnership is the establishment of the George Brown College Global Citizenship Bursary. The inaugural bursary will be available to students from Barbados reflecting the inspiring and innovative new partnership established.

For 2024, the GBC Global Citizenship Bursary will support up to $10,000 CDN for students from Barbados enrolling in any George Brown College meeting the Ministry of Education, Training and Vocational Training eligibility criteria in coordination with GBC.

This scholarship/bursary will support a deserving student from Barbados in pursuing their education at George Brown College, either in Canada or at the college’s Barbados campus.

A second $10,000 CDN will be available for student(s) in the first cohort of a program jointly developed amongst the four partners George Brown College, Barbados Community College, Erdiston Teachers College, and the Ministry of Education, Training and Vocational Training in Barbados.

To launch this partnership, George Brown commits CAN$20,000 in educational bursary funding to be made available to Barbadian students for 2024-25.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley, during her recent visit to George Brown College, along with Canada’ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, motivated the College’s interest in renewing its partnership with Barbados. Prime Minister Mottley, stated “Our tagline at home is Global Citizens, Bajan Roots.” She added that “We recognize that there are opportunities and a mismatch in jobs globally. We need to get as many people as possible capable of getting those jobs, which means preparing them through education. So, thank you [George Brown College.]”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Kay McConney states that “the partnership builds on the Government’s focus on building economic and social capacity, through the development of global citizens with Barbadian roots”. The strategic alliance brings together the expertise of George Brown College, Barbados Community College, and Erdiston Teachers Training College, to drive meaningful initiatives that positively benefit students and educators.