September 2, 2025
RRC Polytech recently had the honour of hosting high-level delegates from across the Caribbean as part of an Experiential Learning Study Tour hosted by the College and Institutes Canada (CICan) Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE) program, with funding support from Global Affairs Canada.
The SAGE program supports the implementation of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems in six Caribbean countries to improve economic opportunities – particularly for women and youth – through the development of demand-driven, inclusive, and sustainable training programs in green sectors.
RRC Polytech was the sole stop in Manitoba, with delegates visiting four other CICan member institutions in Alberta – Olds College, Red Deer Polytechnic, the Building Trades of Alberta and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) – to learn about Canada’s successful apprenticeship systems and opportunities to adapt best practices across the Caribbean.
Representatives from RRC Polytech had the opportunity to learn about current apprenticeship systems in the Caribbean, and in turn, welcome Apprenticeship Manitoba to speak about apprenticeship in the province, including regulation, standards and quality assurance.
Delegates participated in an immersive guided tour of RRC Polytech’s state-of-the-art apprenticeship training labs, workshops and hands-on learning spaces. This tour allowed delegates to experience how students are equipped with real-world industry skills through cutting-edge technology and expert instruction.
Delegates visiting lab spaces in the School of Skilled Trades and Technologies during the immersive campus tour.
The visit also included discussions focused on strengthening apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship systems in the Caribbean, and action planning to co-design an apprenticeship model that reflects the unique needs of the Caribbean while drawing on Canadian best practices.
Through the CICan Experiential Learning Study Tour experience, new connections were built, laying the foundation for ongoing collaboration and innovation between Canada and the Caribbean, and inspiring a future where education unlocks greener opportunities for all.
Source: Red River College Polytechnique
The Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE) program supports demand-driven technical and vocational education training (TVET) in key economic sectors associated with climate change and green skills in the Caribbean.
By leveraging the expertise of Canadian colleges and institutes, SAGE helps local training institutions in Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, and St. Lucia develop and deliver gender-sensitive skills training programs that meet economic and environmental needs in the region.
In particular, SAGE supports adolescent girls and women, youth and vulnerable populations to access TVET in in-demand sectors.