An international development project aimed at fostering partnerships in sustainable development and green skill acquisition for six Caribbean nations brought an old friend of Selkirk College back to the West Kootenay.
A lifelong educator with extensive experience in international programming, Pat Bidart spent three years as Dean of several different Selkirk College schools. In May 2019, she left British Columbia to lead a new Colleges & Institutes Canada (CICAN) project called Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE) that includes the nations of Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica and St. Lucia.
As part of an experiential learning tour through Alberta and BC, Bidart and 25 leadership team members from participating Caribbean post-secondaries stopped by Nelson’s Tenth Street Campus and the Selkirk Technology & Access Centre (STAC) in Trail in late-April to see what was happening for rural students and educators.
“It’s important to learn from partner schools in Canada,” says Bidart. “On this tour, I wanted to go to small and medium sized institutions in Canada because in the Caribbean the post-secondaries are not very big. A small institution like Selkirk College does amazing work and I know people here, so it was a great fit. Plus, they get to see the country a bit more and it is very beautiful in the Kootenays. The participants get both deeper understanding of Canadian culture and insight into quality academic offerings during this trip.”
Program Places Focus on High Demand Sectors
Holding a resume packed with a variety of international education initiatives, Bidart is taking the SAGE project from beginning until the its end in June 2025. SAGE is a pioneering initiative aimed at supporting demand-driven technical and vocational education training in key economic sectors associated with climate change and green skills in the Caribbean. By leveraging the expertise of Canadian colleges and institutes, the program empowers local training institutions to develop and deliver gender-sensitive skills training programs that meet economic and environmental needs in the region.
Focusing on adolescent girls, women, youth and vulnerable populations, SAGE ensures inclusivity and accessibility when providing technical and vocational education training in high-demand sectors such as agriculture, agro-food processing, renewable energy, construction, water and coastal management, and eco-tourism. More than 1,000 students are set to benefit from this initiative, receiving training that not only enhances their employability but also contributes to the sustainable growth of the Caribbean economy. SAGE extends its support to small and medium enterprises, helping in gender-equitable workforce planning, development, training and certification.
The late-April tour with the group included visits to Lethbridge Community College, College of the Rockies, Selkirk College, Olds College and Red Deer Polytechnic where participants engaged in interactive sessions, campus tours and presentations focusing on programs, educational technology and applied research driving sustainability.
While at Selkirk College, Bidart brought several opportunities to both students and staff that included projects in Jamaica, Kenya, Guatemala and Rwanda. Though the SAGE project is not directly tied to Selkirk College, Bidart encourages all those involved in rural post-secondary to pursue opportunities that open doors to the world.
“International development is such an amazing opportunity for both faculty and students, so it is very rewarding to be involved,” she says. “It’s an area of post-secondary where you can really see how you can make changes through these partnerships. The people that I work with want change and you get to see that passion when we make visits like this one.”
The SAGE Program is funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by CICAN.
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Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.