The world of work is constantly evolving and adapting to these changes is no longer a choice. Developing new skills and embracing a mindset for continuous learning is key to securing a place in the workforce of the future. These global trends are already impacting the labor market in the Caribbean and Caribbean people are being encouraged to make learning a priority.
The Inter-American Development Bank’s Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) provide accessible opportunities for ongoing education at no cost to learners. In 2014, the IDB launched the MOOCs´ program looking to expand the impact of its educational tools. Over a million people have registered for our courses including over 12 thousand from the Caribbean.
We asked our students in the Caribbean if the courses have improved their academic, professional and social lives. Their answers surprised us. Over 500 participants from the Caribbean sent us their stories and here we share 3 of the most inspiring.
Training farmers in Haiti
Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti on October 2016 and destroyed 90% of the southwest of the country. After taking the course Agrimonitor: Agricultural Policy in the Caribbean Jeroannie Charles worked on a post-hurricane project in one of the most affected communities of Leogane. Jeroannie says,
“The course really improved my social environment. I trained farmers on issues related to climate change which led them to stop cutting trees to make charcoal. By working together people of the many communities of Leogane got to know each other which led to them sharing important tips and advice.”
Leader in project management
Project management skills are key to ensuring that programs are executed efficiently and effectively. Camile St. Louis from Grenada told us how taking our course PM for Development helped her to find new professional opportunities and also become a mentor. Camille told us,
“I have been able to interact with academics, students, prospective students and colleagues advocating for project management certification. Recently, I have had three opportunities based on my practice as a Project Management Professional. I am now working with a local institution exploring new opportunities for teaching and learning. I am actively mentoring young professionals and business people with an interest in Project Management. And I have also provided a new avenue for professional development in the workplace. I believe my project management skills, enhanced by this course, was a significant factor in my selection to participate in a regional leadership course which has opened a social network of 40 + young professionals across the Caribbean Region.”
Using data in agriculture
Data is available everywhere and grows at an exponential rate. How can we make sense of all this data? Joseph Wangija took our course Data for Effective Policy Making and analyzed the information of our Open Data portal. He used this knowledge to develop a project that boosts farming in Guyana. Joseph wrote,
“One of my professional assignments is to conduct research for agencies and communities. Together with my colleagues, I have used this knowledge to develop an agricultural project where we work with over 2,000 farmers in the Berbice sub-region of Guyana to boost farming. This was largely informed by the information I obtained at the IDB open data portal. This data, plus the additional literature, which was provided, showed that the food import bill for the Caribbean region was very high; this is despite the fact that Guyana has huge swaths of land and fresh water. This course has improved my professional knowledge and interest in keeping data. As a result of this course, I learned and appreciated the importance of storing data for future usage.”
We’re eager to hear more from our students. The next successful story could be you. Do you accept the challenge?
Climate Change Education, Project Management for Development, Data for Effective Policy Making, What Works in Education, Agrimonitor: Agricultural Policy in the Caribbean, Risk Management in Development Projects, Leaders in Citizen Security and Justice Management for the Caribbean
For a full list of all our MOOCs visit us at https://www.edx.org/es/school/idbx
For more podcasts from our Improving Lives in the Caribbean series click here.
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