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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
COB TRANSFORMATION LAUNCHED -- Following a $16.18 million dollar loan funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the College of the Bahamas is on its way to becoming a full-service university. A ceremony was held to commemorate the event on the evening of Wednesday, March 4, at the school’s Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre. Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, delivered the keynote address. (BIS Photo/Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas – The government is moving full steam ahead with its plan to transform the College of The Bahamas (COB) into a full-service university. During a ceremony held on the evening of Wednesday, March 4 at the school’s Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre, Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie stated that the college has to be ‘transformed’ in order to prepare the country for the next generation. He said that with COB gaining university status, Bahamian students would have more options for tertiary education.
“The transition to university status will mean that Bahamians will have the opportunity to pursue graduate as well as doctoral degree programs at the University of The Bahamas,” said Mr. Christie. “This also means greater equity for the majority of Bahamians. No longer will individuals have to opt for online or distance learning to pursue a master’s degree because the soon-to-be University of The Bahamas will afford Bahamians the opportunity to sit in a classroom and pursue graduate studies in more Master’s degree programs.”
(BIS Photo/Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)
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In addition, Mr. Christie said that students would have the option to pursue postgraduate studies at the same institution and can eliminate the need to find an institution abroad to continue studies.
The transformation of the college is backed by a $16.18 million loan extended by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). It is proposed that the loan will fund ‘capacity-building initiatives at The College as it advances in its university transition. The loan from the CDB will facilitate enhancements and an augmentation in The College’s capacity to deliver quality human resource management, enterprise risk management and business finance systems. It will also enable The College to institutionalize a Quality Assurance System. Further, it will provide for an upgraded security system, assist with the drafting of the University of The Bahamas Bill and provide for consultancies in the construction of University of The Bahamas infrastructure.
(BIS Photo/Raymond A. Bethel, Sr.)
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The government has made a commitment that The College of The Bahamas will attain university status by the end of 2015. This would signify a major milestone for the college, which was founded over 40 years ago.
Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald said that this move has been in the pipeline for over 13 years. He expressed his gratitude to those who were involved in the original planning of the transformation including the former and current President of the College, Dr. Rodney Smith, former Minister of Education, Mr. Alfred Sears and other staff and faculty of the college.
President of COB, Dr. Rodney D. Smith said that the transformation of the college would better serve students seeking education. In addition, he said, work has already begun to complete a draft University of The Bahamas Bill, which once completed and enacted by the Parliament of the Bahamas, would officially establish the institution as ‘The University of The Bahamas.’
The College’s recently formed Office of Institutional Strengthening, headed by Dr. Danny Davis, is leading the project implementation.
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