A memorandum of understanding was signed today between the Chairman of BTL'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Anwar Barrow and the President of SJC Allis Peralta, to cement a partnership between the two institutions. They are teaming up for an enhanced Associate's Degree Program in Computer Networking with an emphasis in IP Technology. The signing was accompanied by the unveiling of the newly refurbished computer and diagnostics lab. The facility that will be used for practical instruction in the enhanced Associate's Degree Program. The Ceremony took place at the St. John's College West Landivar Campus in Belize City earlier today - and we were there.
Allis Peralta - President, SJC
"It is in this spirit that we accept to submit a proposal addressed to BTL's needs for an academic program design to train its employees in the area of computer networking whilst at the same time obtaining the benefit of a fully equip computer lab for our students to be known as the BTL technology lab. We strongly believe that this program and the BTL technology lab will have a significant impact on the future of both employees of BTL and the students of St. Johns College. It is clear that technology is an essential component of the modern work place and it is thus imperative that as an educational institution we are able to train not only the current work force but also the future work force of this nation."
Anwar Barrow - Exec. Chair., BTL Board
"The technology lab is really part and parcel of the academic program which SJC is going to launch and that program is important to BTL because we are always looking for new talent to recruit into the company with the adequate training as well as to train up our people who are already members of the team. BTL over the last year, year and a half has been quietly going through a transformation in which we want to transform the way you the customer experiences technology and our goal is really to move Belize into the realm of being a world class technology hub and with it move our company into being a world class technology provider. Our goal, the goal of my board, the goal of myself is to really take this program and build upon it and launch a 4 yr. full time engineering degree program. That is our real goal because to build Belize, to build BTL, to build technology, we need more engineers."
Reporter
"Let's talk about the level of investment that Telemedia is making here at SJC."
Anwar Barrow - Exec. Chair., BTL Board
"Well, the program represents for us a quarter million dollar investment over 3 yrs. and that comes by way of the lab that you see today as well as the tuition for the enrollment of some of our employees. The program is open to the public. So it's not just for the BTL employees, that's important. But that's what represents for us in terms of dollars, but I think the return investment is going to be a great one because as we push forward, we need our people to become better qualified, better skilled and this is what this is about."
Although the official signing took place today, the program has been running since the start of the semester last week with 10 BTL employees currently enrolled. The hope for this program is to enroll 40 students within the next 3 years. BTL says they are aiming high and as they look towards launching a full time Bachelor's degree in engineering in Belize in the near future.
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