Civil Service College and UCCI Announce Partnership

The Cayman Islands Civil Service College (CSC) celebrated two milestones last week Thursday, 18 April 2024: presenting certificates to its largest graduating group of over 130 civil servants, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning through a new partnership with the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI).

Both of these initiatives support the Cayman Islands Government’s fourth broad outcome, which emphasises its responsibility for setting priorities and outlines the public sector’s crucial role in delivering on those initiatives. They also support broad outcomes one and three, improving the quality of life for Caymanians and future proofing to increase resiliency. Through the efforts of the CSC, the public sector is being equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to address the challenges they face, effectively translate government policy into action and deliver exceptional service to the Cayman Islands.

The over 130 graduates were recognised for successfully completing a range of programmes offered by the CSC, including ILM Leadership & Management certifications (levels 2 through 7), the City and Guilds Level 4 Diploma in Business and Professional Administration, and the CSC’s Foundational Business Communication programme launched last year.

CSC Director Monique Malcolm congratulated the awardees, emphasising the importance of continuous learning. She highlighted that this event wasn’t just a recognition of their hard work, but “the beginning of new opportunities to use what was learnt to make a positive impact on the lives of those we serve.” The Deputy Governor, the Hon. Franz Manderson, echoed this sentiment, sharing an inspiring story about his rise through the Civil Service. He encouraged all civil servants to embrace lifelong learning and development as essential tools for navigating the ever-changing world and the challenges and opportunities it brings.

The new CSC-UCCI partnership announcement came during the ceremony, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Mrs. Gloria McField-Nixon, Chief Officer of the Portfolio of the Civil Service, and Dr. Robert Robertson, UCCI President.

The MoU paves the way for expanded learning opportunities for civil servants. The collaboration will focus on providing industry-specific training programmes ranging from certificates to postgraduate degrees. The programmes will be tailored to address the evolving needs of the Civil Service, and will even recognise transferable credits through a prior learning assessment process. Specific details are being finalised and will be communicated by summer, in advance of UCCI’s fall enrollment.

This new partnership signifies a shared commitment by the CSC and UCCI to enhance the educational landscape, empower civil servants at all levels, and ensure that the Civil Service is prepared to face the complex challenges of today’s world.

Chief Officer McField-Nixon emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, “As the single largest employer within the Cayman Islands, CIG is excited about this partnership which supports our vision of developing world-class capabilities and reaffirmas our dedication to investing in the potential of our people and future proofing the public service.” President Robertson shared in this sentiment, highlighting UCCI’s pleasure in partnering with the CSC to empower civil servants in achieving their professional goals.