Sandy Ground Anguilla
The Anguilla Community College continues to strengthen its range of industry specific qualifications for persons motivated to sharpen their competitive edge in Anguilla’s workforce. Though tertiary education and preparation for baccalaureate and higher degrees continue to be among the College’s purposes, one of the ACC’s fundamental goals is to help qualify and improve the skills bank of every resident on Anguilla.
President of the ACC, Dr Karl Dawson, noted recently that while “…we all expect our doctors to have a medical license but, sadly, we don’t seem to have as demanding requirements for the important people who work in our premier hospitality sector”. The Anguilla Community College is making an effort to change this by offering internationally recognised certification.
The hospitality certifications will include the American Hotel and Lodging Education Institute (AHLEI) qualifications for Certified Front Desk Attendants, Certified Guest Room Attendants, as well as Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and Shaker Bar School certifications for Junior Sommeliers and Mixologists. The courses are 2 – 5 days in duration and therefore tailored to accommodate the lives of busy professionals. Training, coupled with experience, will further strengthen the skills, efficiency and effectiveness of the hospitality workforce.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council chairperson, Mr Alfred Thompson, confirms that while training and qualification are key, it is also equally important to ensure that all industry professionals are performing at a required standard consistent with, or exceeding, that of professionals both regionally and internationally. The TVET Council, established in 2013, seeks to encourage this through the development of national occupational standards for various sectors.
According to the President of the ACC, the College stands ready to support industry training. He lauded the Anguilla Maritime Administration (AMA) as a front runner for promoting and enforcing the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) as an industry standard certification for Seafarers. The ACC is also exploring how best to offer the Captains’ License on Anguilla. Further, it hopes to see more Hospitality partners taking the initiative to develop industry standards and to be willing to recognise and reward employees who step up to certify themselves.
For more information on the ACC’s Hospitality Certifications call (264) 498-8395 or go to apply.acc.edu.ai.
