CARLENE Patrick, who recently graduated from the Institute for Workforce Education & Development (IWED) with a certificate in allied health, may have had a late start, but is doing everything to “catch up” as she was commended at the graduation and presented with the Holistic Excellence Award, for completing over seven courses offered by IWED.

Patrick, a quality assurance coordinator and eight-year employee at Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited Group (MMS), the umbrella organisation of which IWED is a wholly owned subsidiary, was one of 50 graduates who recently completed courses in allied health, public area hygiene, landscape & grounds and customer service as part of the institute’s ‘Empowering the Workforce, Transforming the Future’ programme. The graduation was held at the MMS auditorium at the organisation’s Eureka Road headquarters.

“I got pregnant early, and I did not get the opportunity to graduate high school. So, after sending myself back to school and receiving a diploma in business management, I decided that every opportunity that came along, I would take it, and that is what I am doing,” said Patrick, when asked why she chose to complete so many courses.

To date she has also completed courses in hygiene practice, customer care, health & safety, first aid, report writing, among others.

“I am motivated to do these courses to catch up on what I have lost,” she said.

Other special awardees include Ashley Stephenson, Sandra Letts and Courtney Walters (customer service); Francene Peart and Charmaine Campbell-Christie (allied health); Angella Talbot (public area hygiene); and Marcia Brown, Rayon Dwyer and Delon Beswick (landscape & grounds). Beswick, a groundsman with MMS for two years, was hailed as being “diligent and exceptional” at his job. He attributes this accolade to his ability to follow instructions, “and I love beautification”.

“With the changes in marketplace demands, micro credentials in education may become more critical for workforce development,” said interim president of IWED Verica Bennett-Davidson.

“For the future, skills and skills credentials could take precedence over some degrees and in that regard, IWED’s objective is to offer training that will equip learners to function effectively in the modern workforce. By offering opportunities for lifelong learning, we aim to assist learners to improve existing and cultivate new skills both for the local and international markets.”

Keynote speaker at the graduation, senior director of marketing, communications and community engagement at the HEART/NSTA Trust, Natalie Robinson, who represented Managing Director Dr Taneisha Ingleton, reminded the graduates of the value of education and the opportunities that being certified can offer both locally and internationally.

She said that certification in the areas of allied health and patient care, as well as public area hygiene, customer service and grounds & landscaping, signify that “you are competent, capable and ready to serve with excellence”.

“These are not just occupations; they require a deep sense of care, compassion and responsibility,” she said.

Robinson noted that in the area of allied health, for example, the work of the graduates “will impact many lives”. She also highlighted the importance of the role of those who will be working in public area hygiene, which was demonstrated during the coronavirus pandemic.

Both programmes were presented by IWED in partnership with HEART/NSTA Trust.

Also speaking at the graduation, chairman of IWED Wayne Chen said the graduates have now gained marketable skills.

“The only way to see improvement in earnings is to improve personal productivity,” he added.