THE Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the HEART Trust/NTA yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide certification for a range of workers in the industry, and to complement the existing regional professional certification programme, CaribCert.

The JHTA has been engaged in skills training and certification for its membership through the Caribbean Hotel Association’s (CHA) CaribCert, a professional certification programme based on knowledge and performance established for 47 of the most popular occupations in the hospitality sector.

Under the MOU, all individuals certified under CaribCert in Jamaica will also receive the National Vocational Qualifications of Jamaica (NVQJs)/ Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) awarded by the NCTVET where agreed standards are met.

As part of the agreement, the JHTA will also provide a database of all persons in Jamaica already certified under the CaribCert programme, as well as copies of relevant training and assessment material to the NCTVET for the purpose of undertaking the required alignment to the appropriate occupational and job standards.

The JHTA will also facilitate an audit of the CaribCert assessment procedures as part of HEART’s strategy in determining equivalencies of the NVQJs or any other recognition awarded by the NCTVET where agreed standards are met.

The association is also expected to identify potential industry practitioners who may be trained as assessors and assist in promoting the dual-certification programme within its membership.

For its part, where persons have not met the full requirements of the NVQJ, and are desirous of receiving certification, the National Training Agency, in collaboration with the various tourism entities, will undertake the recommended training and/or assessment in order to complete the requirements for the awarding of the NVQJ to the individuals in question.

Both the JHTA and HEART Trust/NTA will promote the dual-certification among tourism workers in Jamaica as well as regionally.