The Centre for Employment Initiatives (CEI) is supporting regional workforce development and innovation through its role as part of the Consultancy Team for the OECS Skills and Innovation Project (SKIP), an initiative designed to strengthen human capital and drive sustainable growth across the Eastern Caribbean.
Project focus
Implemented across Saint Lucia and Grenada, OECS SKIP responds to interconnected challenges that affect the region’s long-term competitiveness, including skills shortages, low productivity, and limited innovation capacity. The project places a strong emphasis on investing in people and strengthening systems that help countries adapt to changing labour market needs.
Enhancing youth skills for employment
A central priority of OECS SKIP is improving the transversal and advanced technical skills of young people. By strengthening job-relevant skills, the project supports smoother transitions from education to employment, while improving productivity and long-term adaptability in the workforce.
Strengthening regional collaboration in post-secondary education
Recognising the limitations faced by smaller member states, the project prioritises a shared regional approach to post-secondary education. This includes efforts to harmonise standards, leverage economies of scale, and improve the overall relevance and quality of post-secondary systems across the OECS.
Building stronger learning standards and assessment frameworks
CEI’s consultancy support included technical work to help advance common learning standards and assessment frameworks, including desk research, draft learning outcomes, draft assessment frameworks, and the development of tools to measure student development. The work also supported regional validation workshops to strengthen shared ownership and alignment.
Supporting harmonised professional standards
Additional activities focused on advancing harmonised standards for qualifications, evaluation, and professional development for faculty and leadership staff. This work contributes to building stronger post-secondary institutions and supporting a more resilient, innovation-ready education ecosystem across the OECS.
Why this matters
Through OECS SKIP, CEI continues to advance inclusive skills development and innovation-led growth—strengthening regional capacity for economic diversification, productivity, and resilience.
