The Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert recently visited the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC). She was updated on the current developments, successes and plans of the campus.

Dr. Rigobert toured the Derek Walcott Library—a new installment at the college, and the school’s e-Learning Academy.

Dr. Keith Nurse, Principal at the SALCC said they “were also able to share with the minister plans to establish an innovation hub which would house four sub-labs. The first is an Environmental Sciences Lab, where we will be doing testing of everything from water quality, air quality, soil and other environmental areas. The second is a Food Technology Lab which will allow for both agro-processes, testing, and certification in the area of food processing as well as food development.”

Other upcoming projects shared with the minister include a Media Technology Laboratory focused on application development and robotics. Additionally, SALCC hopes to establish a Virtual Reality Laboratory to aid in teaching subjects that traditionally require hands on training.  There are plans to set up a café in the center of the College’s courtyard with the aim of making the campus more hospitable for students, staff and the general public.

Dr. Nurse revealed another project which will see the college hosting a Farmers’ Market on weekends. This will allow the college to sell the produce from its farm. Concessionaires ranging from crafters to food producers and agro-processers will be invited to sell local products.

Hon. Dr. Gail Rigobert lauded Dr. Keith Nurse and the faculty for revamping the Associate Degree Programme, the digital education advancements and modular approach currently used in 60 percent of classes as well as the introduction of four new Bachelor’s Degree programmes.