COSTAATT

College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago

Presentation to 2nd Annual Conference of Association of Caribbean Higher Education Administrators (ACHEA)

Trinidad and Tobago, July 2002

TECHNOLOGY
Key to Organizational Transformation and Global Competitiveness
Presenters:

DR. GILLIAN PAUL COSTAATT Academic Affairs MS. JUDY WHILBY COSTAATT Library Services

PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Defining the Problem WHY COSTAATT? Understanding the Context
WHAT DOES HIGHER EDUCATION LOOK LIKE TODAY?

Understanding the Task

WHERE ARE OUR INSTITUTIONS NOW?

PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Exploring Solutions and Strategies
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO THE GOAL

Technology as Strategic Advantage

WILL THIS ROAD LEAD TO THE COLLEGE?

Choosing a Technology Solution HOW TO DECIDE?

PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Implementing the Solution ARE WE ALL ON THE SAME ROAD? Planning for Sustainability
WHERE ARE THE ROAD BLOCKS?

Technology and the Future of the College MANY PATHS TO A COMMON GOAL

State of Education and Development

LOW PARTICIPATION RATES.

Low level of participation in tertiary education for middle-level developing economy

Approximately 8% of 18-25 cohort with 3% accessing university education

High failure rates at secondary school with large numbers of students, excluded from college level training and education opportunities

Each year, only about 35% of secondary level students obtain the 5 CXC passes

State of Education and Development

LIMITED ACCESS

Programmes serve a very traditional student population relying on traditional modes

Needs of adult working students, physically disabled students, academic under-prepared students, geographically remote students not adequately addressed

Limited vertical or horizontal articulation among public and private tertiary institutions

Duplication of efforts and wastage of students time and resources

State of Education and Development

WEAK IMPACT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Skills mismatch between outputs of training institutions and labour market needs

Chronic unemployment and underemployment

Concentration of higher education and training programmes in very limited areas

Limits economic diversification possibilities

WHY COSTAATT
What is COSTAATT?
The College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago COSTAATT was legally established in October 2000 as a multi-campus college, empowered to award certificates, diplomas and bachelors degrees in academic and technical-vocational studies

WHY COSTAATT
COSTAATT comprises the following institutions:

John S. Donaldson Technical Institute San Fernando Technical Institute

Government Vocation Centre Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry Joint Services Staff College
The Metal Industries Company Ltd

WHY COSTAATT
COSTAATT comprises the following institutions:
THE NIHERST TEACHING DIVISIONS College of Health Sciences College of Nursing Information Technology College School of Languages Business Management Department General Education Division

WHY COSTAATT
The Government mandated COSTAATT to:

Contribute to increasing the participation rate in tertiary education to 15% by 2005 as recommended by CARICOM Ministers of Education in 1995
Improve the quality and relevance of tertiary level education and training

Broaden access to higher education to previously under-served groups

WHY COSTAATT?
COSTAATT will offer more diversified options for quality tertiary education producing qualified, skilled persons, to meet the demands of economic growth, and help bridge the gap between the global economy and Trinidad and Tobagos labour force.

THE HIGHER EDUCATION MARKET SPACE

THE HIGHER EDUCATION MARKET SPACE

Basic Library Services in 2-year College Learning Resources Program
Acquisitions, cataloging, maintenance, preservation, and/or circulation of various types of resources Computer systems management and maintenance Equipment services Instructional services Production services

THE HIGHER EDUCATION MARKET SPACE

Additional Services Components in 2-year College Learning Resources Program
Resource sharing services Community Services Curriculum

Faculty Development
Government Documents Depository Joint- Use Laboratories

THE HIGHER EDUCATION MARKET SPACE

Additional Services Components in 2-year College Learning Resources Program
Laboratories

Printing
Student ID Service Television/Radio Resource-sharing Services

UNDERSTANDING THE TASK

UNDERSTANDING THE TASK

THE STATE OF LIBRARY SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES

Outdated collections
Available resources cannot support teaching/learning activities of the college

Limited access to periodical literature

Inadequate staffing Staff not trained to operate in automated environment In some campuses/centres there were no libraries

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
Develop libraries individually and establish libraries in campuses/centres where none existed Establish staff development program to train staff to operate at the required levels Duplicate collections in campuses where there are similar program offerings Increase staffing levels

TECHNOLOGY AS STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE

PRODUCT ADVANTAGES Users are provided with infinite information with finite resources

Access from home and office and ability to download text on demand
Ability to access remote databases

Access for External Users on the Internet to OPACs

TECHNOLOGY AS STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE

The COSTAATT Wide Area Network

INTERNET

Dial-Up Users

Firewall
The NIHERST Colleges Tobago Learning Centre Student Information Module Finance Module

John Donaldson Technical Institute

Library Module

Human Resource Module

COSTAATTs MAIN CAMPUS

Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry

San Fernando Technical Institute

Metal Industries Company Government Vocational Center Joint Services Staff College

CHOOSING A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION

CHOOSING A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION

1. Development of a library profile
Collect basic statistical information on the libraries and their operations

Take stock of any existing automation

CHOOSING A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION

2. Set service priorities
Determine which functions are to be automated and in what order of priority

Take stock of any existing automation

CHOOSING A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION

3. Look at cost elements
Elements involved in the installation and operation of an automated system
Planning and Consulting Costs

Purchase of the system

Telecommunications Conversion costs

Ongoing Operating costs

Additions to the System

CHOOSING A TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION

4. Develop Functional Specifications
What you want the system to do for you
Planning and Consulting Costs

Purchase of the system

Telecommunications Conversion costs

Ongoing Operating costs

Additions to the System

IMPLEMENTING THE SOLUTION

PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY

TECHNOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF THE COLLEGE

Taking Learning HIGHER