HEART/NSTA Trust launches programmes to promote engagement among alumni

The HEART/NSTA Trust launched its Trainee Support Services Initiatives – Alumni Engagement and Leadership Development programmes on Thursday.

The programmes are intended to promote engagement and collaboration among HEART alumni, enhance and support their career development, and promote leadership competencies.

Addressing the launch ceremony, held at the agency’s Oxford Road Corporate Office in Kingston, executive director of the Trust, Dr Taneisha Ingleton, said that recognising the importance of a robust alumni network to promote technical and vocational education and training, the programme seeks to cultivate an active alumni community to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration, as well as access to opportunities that facilitate lifelong learning and promote national development.

Dr Ingleton noted that engagement of HEART Trust alumni is essential for the sustained success of the institution.

“By integrating alumni into our current programmes, we will build a sense of belonging and help current trainees develop the competencies necessary to thrive in their industries,” she said.

The executive director said alumni, as a resource for industry engagement, will play a pivotal role in connecting trainees with industry opportunities through work-based learning and experiences, field trips and exposure to key industry networks.

“The benefits of alumni are many for our institution, as this builds public confidence and strengthens the Trust’s reputation by showcasing the success of former trainees, and is a testament of the transformative power of TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training),” she noted.

HEART alumni will gain access to a vibrant community where they can share success stories and collaborate on innovative projects, as well as give back through volunteerism and mentorship.

“Your role in nurturing this network is essential. Let us work together to build a community that not only celebrates the achievements of the past but also invests in the possibilities of the future,” Dr Ingleton urged.

Meanwhile, Deputy Managing Director Dr Cheryl McLaughlin said, this financial year, the Trust’s work focuses on establishing a system for standardised implementation of the programmes across all HEART/NSTA Trust regions.

“For this year, we will be looking at the alumni engagement and tracking support leadership development, mentorship, psychosocial, and work-based learning,” she said.

Dr McLaughlin said the launch of the initiative is intended to provide academic, psychosocial and welfare support for HEART trainees from pre-entry to graduation.

To date, more than 613,000 trainees have been trained, and more than 254,000 certified by the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET).