An Analysis of Recent Developments in Tertiary, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and Post-secondary Sector in Trinidad and Tobago (2000–2010)

Exploring Predictors of Sense of Belonging in Trinidad and Tobago

“…Over the past two decades T&T in particular has invested heavily in increasing access to and participation in tertiary education, with a great deal of success. In 2001 tertiary participation was approximately 7%; in 2008 the rate had jumped to 40% (Herbert & Lochan, 2014), and by the end of 2013 was just over 65% (Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 2014). This growth has been supported by the rise in private institutions and in 2004 the creation of a new national university, the University of Trinidad and Tobago (Herbert & Lochan, 2014).…”

“…In 2001 tertiary participation was approximately 7%; in 2008 the rate had jumped to 40% (Herbert & Lochan, 2014), and by the end of 2013 was just over 65% (Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 2014). This growth has been supported by the rise in private institutions and in 2004 the creation of a new national university, the University of Trinidad and Tobago (Herbert & Lochan, 2014). Importantly, in 2004 the government of T&T also established the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) program, which covered the full cost of undergraduate tertiary education tuition and up to half of the tuition costs for postgraduate studies at any accredited institution in T&T (Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 2013).…”

“…However, due to economic difficulties, starting in the 2017-18 academic year, along with other cost-saving measures, the government began imposing a means test to require students with greater financial resources to pay up to 50% of their undergraduate tuition (Office of the Prime Minister, 2017). With the large financial investments in the growth of tertiary education throughout T&T (Herbert & Lochan, 2014;Parliament, 2013), it is necessary to determine how the current student programs and experiences at these institutions foster or hinder a sense of belonging and thereby student success (Hausmann et al, 2009;O'Keeffe, 2013;Strayhorn, 2012).…”

Community Identity Development and Interpersonal Development in Tertiary Education in Trinidad and Tobago

“…Over the past two decades, participation in tertiary education in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has skyrocketed, up from 7% of the total population in 2001 to over 65% by the end of 2013 (Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 2014;Herbert & Lochan, 2014). As Altbach, Reisberg, and Rumbley (2009) have noted, when higher education systems expand rapidly, they "initially struggle just to cope with the demand" (p. 2); over time, however, higher education practitioners turn their focus to how to best support those students who are enrolled and to higher-order questions of student learning and development (e.g., United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO], 2009).…”