The Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN)
Strategic objective: To enhance global competitiveness of the Caribbean by upgrading and diversifying the skills and knowledge of human resources in the region through greater regional collaboration and connectivity.
Immediate objective: To improve the relevance of tertiary education and training institutions in the Caribbean, by increasing the number of relevant accredited tertiary education courses and programs supported and offered to a significantly increased numbers of Caribbean students.
Tertiary education and training institutions
The project components are:
- Institutional strengthening - Building capacity in the tertiary education institutions of the region for the successful adoption of new approaches to learning and the sustainable and strategic management of the host institutions;
- Connecting the Caribbean - Harness state-of-the-art communications technologies to provide a virtual learning network between tertiary education institutions in the Caribbean;
- Enabling Regional Mechanisms - Facilitate the success of the tertiary institutions, particularly the ones related to training, accreditation, quality assurance, standards, financial transactions, learning management and technical support.
CKLN also coordinates and manages the development of C@ribNET, the regional Research and Education Network that will connect CARICOM institutions for greater collaboration and functional cooperation.
- A Regional Collaboration Workshop where stakeholder representatives from the Tertiary Education Community reviewed current initiatives and recommended future activities to encourage regional collaboration.
- Regional Consultation on Quality Assurance (QA).
- Regional Consultation for the integration of ICT into the teaching and learning process with representatives from the Ministries of Education and Tertiary Learning Instituions.
In order to comply with the mandates of CARICOM, CKLN engaged in research, liaising with existing international networks (Internt2, redCLARA, Géante), in order to prepare proposals, budgets and work plans. They sought funding from international and regional donors and also worked with numerous independent Caribbean states, many with no, or differing, regulatory frameworks.
