Ensuring that we have a digitally-skilled population should be a top priority for the Caribbean region, as it is an area that requires comprehensive and long-term planning in order to realise measurable and meaningful improvement. Barbara Reynolds (PhD) and Carlton Samuels, the Co-Chairs of the CARICOM Digital Skills Taskforce discuss, among other things, the work of the Taskforce, some of the challenges that may need to be addressed to advance digital skills development in the region, and why we might less digitally skilled than we think we are!

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, Amazon Music and Stitcher!

These days in the job market, it is assumed that to some degree, everyone is computer literate and knows how to use a few basic software applications. However, as technology becomes increasingly integrated and integral to virtually all aspects of our lives, it is crucial that we better understand the state of digital skills across the Caribbean region, in order to identify gaps and how best to get to where we think we need to be.

In the latter half of 2021, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) launched the CARICOM Digital Skills Taskforce to begin the work needed to improve digital skills across the Caribbean. The scope of the work of the Taskforce, what is hoping to achieve, and what it will take to meaningfully advance digital skills development in the region, are just a few of the issues that are discussed in this podcast episode.

Additionally, the Taskforce is currently engaging in a series of consultations with a broad range of stakeholders to understand the state of digital skills in the region, which will also inform future work.  The dates for the consultations in August are stated below You may click the image to register, and you are also invited to share it with your community.

 

 

Introducing our guests

Dr Barbara Reynolds

Barbara Reynolds (PhD) served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Guyana from August 2014 to September 2019.  Prior to that, Ms Reynolds was Head of Education for Save the Children UK, having spent some twenty-three years with UNICEF in a range of capacities, including representational and programme assignments in education, child protection and innovation in Africa, Asia and New York.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts Education from Caribbean Union College, a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching from Howard University, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Distance Education from the University of London, a Doctorate of Education in International Education Development/Curriculum and Instruction from Columbia University and the Masters in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford.

 

Carlton Samuels

Carlton Samuels heads Carlton Samuels and Associates and is an international consultant who specializes in areas such as technology in business strategy, ICT policy development, business process re-engineering and ICTs in education. He also does a considerable amount of work in the ICT4D, Internet Governance and Technology in Education spaces. He also teaches Information Science as an adjunct in the Department of Library and Information Studies, the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the UWI, Mona.

Carlton holds a Master’s degree in Management of Information Systems from George Mason University, a Bachelor of Science degree (Honours) in Natural Sciences from the University of the West Indies, and a Diploma in Corporate Strategy from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is based in Jamaica.

 

Insights into our conversation

Digital skills, and the lack thereof, is an issue that should be of particular concern to all of us in the Caribbean region. Although much is made of the near-ubiquitous connectivity that exists, the affordability of suitably-enabled devices and services continues to be a challenge. As a result, a significant portion of our citizens are unable to leverage ICT to improve their lives and livelihood in meaningful ways, and so are being left behind as the digital divide continues to widen.

In our conversation with Barbara and Carlton, we are reminded that the effort to increase access and to have individuals engage with technology started decades ago. However, moving forward, it is crucial, among other things, that we have a comprehensive picture of the state of digital skills in the region, and that we understand how we as individual countries and a region may wish to position ourselves with regard to where technology is going, the skills that will be needed and where the gaps exist.

Listed below are a few of the questions posed to Barbara and Carlton during our conversation:

  1. To start, let’s just spend a few minutes with you introducing yourselves.
  2. Why was the CARICOM Digital Skills Taskforce established?
  3. What is meant by “digital skills”?
  4. Are there specific objectives and outcomes that the Taskforce is expected to achieve?
  5. The Taskforce has been engaging in a series of consultations with a broad range of stakeholders from the region. What have been some of the findings to date?
  6. Having submitted the findings of the regional consultations, what will be next for the Taskforce?

 

We would love to hear from you!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.

Let’s make it happen!

 

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit:  B Reynolds;  C Samuels;  CARICOM; Robo Wunderkind (Unsplash)

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez