Senator Professor Emeritus the Honourable Prakash Persad, Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training,  reaffirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to building a future-ready workforce through digital innovation, lifelong learning, and industry-responsive education while delivering remarks at the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Study Tour hosted at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) on Tuesday 30th June, 2026.

The study tour brought together delegates from Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Namibia to examine Trinidad and Tobago’s growing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) ecosystem and its role in transforming education, skills training, and public service delivery.

Addressing participants, Minister Persad highlighted that the future of education extends beyond traditional degree programmes and increasingly embraces flexible, accessible, and stackable learning opportunities through microcredentials.

“Microcredentials are reshaping the future of education by enabling individuals to acquire targeted, industry-relevant competencies throughout their careers. They provide a flexible pathway for continuous upskilling and reskilling, ensuring that our citizens remain competitive in an evolving global economy while supporting national productivity and innovation,” the Minister stated.

He emphasised that as technology continues to transform industries, education systems must evolve to meet changing workforce demands by providing learners with agile, competency-based pathways that respond quickly to emerging skills needs.

Minister Persad further noted that the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training is committed to fostering stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry, and international development partners to strengthen Trinidad and Tobago’s human capital and position the country as a regional leader in digital education and workforce development.

The Minister also highlighted the strategic importance of Digital Public Infrastructure, including platforms such as VerifyTT, in modernising education services and strengthening public trust through secure digital identity verification and authenticated academic credentials. He noted that trusted digital systems improve access to education, reduce administrative barriers, and enhance the portability and recognition of qualifications both nationally and internationally.

The study tour also showcased the University’s progress in developing a comprehensive microcredentials framework that supports modular and stackable learning, enabling learners to build qualifications incrementally while responding to the evolving needs of employers and priority economic sectors.

Participants engaged in demonstrations of UTT’s digital transformation initiatives, including the integration of VerifyTT into student services, digital credential verification, and emerging applications of artificial intelligence and learning technologies to enhance teaching, learning, and credential management.

Minister Persad noted that initiatives such as these are fully aligned with the Government’s national digital transformation agenda and reinforce Trinidad and Tobago’s vision of creating an innovative, inclusive, and technology-enabled education system that prepares citizens for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

The Commonwealth of Learning Study Tour represents another significant step in strengthening regional collaboration, promoting the exchange of best practices, and positioning Trinidad and Tobago as a leader in digital public infrastructure, microcredentials, and lifelong learning across the Commonwealth.

The Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training remains committed to advancing policies and partnerships that expand access to high-quality education and skills training, drive innovation, and support sustainable national development through a highly skilled and globally competitive workforce.