Dominican Republic and Barbados strengthen ties through skills collaboration

The spirit of international cooperation that defines WorldSkills was on full display as the National Institute of Technical and Vocational Training (INFOTEP), which represents the Dominican Republic at WorldSkills, welcomed a delegation from the TVET Council of Barbados for a week-long exchange of expertise and best practices.

The Barbadian delegation was led by Dario Walcott, Technical Officer of the Barbados TVET Council and Technical Delegate of WorldSkills Barbados, and renowned Caribbean chef and Expert Peter Edey, as part of a growing collaboration between the two national skills organizations.

During the visit, Chef Edey delivered two masterclasses in Caribbean gastronomy for facilitators and chefs in the hospitality industry, and launched training sessions for 35 INFOTEP instructors. The activities were held at INFOTEP’s Metropolitan Regional Directorate in Santo Domingo and at its School of Hospitality, Gastronomy, and Pastry in Higüey, a key tourism hub close to Punta Cana.

The exchange also included technical consultation on organizing skills camps, as well as capacity building sessions aimed at elevating the training standards in preparation for WorldSkills Dominican Republic national competitions.

At the same time, Mr Walcott had the opportunity to explore INFOTEP’s broader innovations in education and training, including the Huawei ITC Academy, the new Language Academy, various technologies and skills training centres, and to get a better understanding of INFOTEP’s quality assurance mechanisms.

This initiative was conceived during the recent visit of INFOTEP’s Director General Rafael Santos Badía to Barbados, on the occasion of the TVET Council’s 30th anniversary. It is also encompassed under WorldSkills Americas’ mission to strengthen cooperation links among regional TVET organizations.

The relationship between both countries has grown steadily since 2022, when INFOTEP trainers began contributing to the annual WorldSkills Barbados Junior Future Skills Camp. In October 2023, both organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the 46th Technical Commission Meeting of ILO/Cinterfor, setting a framework for strengthening skills training in strategic areas, such as languages and cybersecurity, through in-person and virtual exchanges.

By working together, the Dominican Republic and Barbados are not only enhancing their own training systems – they are setting a model for regional cooperation across the Caribbean.