The brainchild of three College of The Bahamas students moved a significant step closer to becoming a reality, thanks to the necessary funding through a $50,000 Memorandum of Understanding between COB and BTC.
A new innovations lab is set to be constructed on the College’s Oaks Field campus, complete with the latest software and technology.
President of COB, Dr. Rodney Smith said BTC’s gift gives students the necessary resources to be on the cutting edge of a new global society and help facilitate their ideas.
“Today we sign this Memorandum of Understanding for an Innovation Lab, a gift from BTC, which will place our students more than ever on the cutting edge of technology.
“This laboratory and incubator will cultivate and enhance the technological talents of many of our students. Students who have the imagination and the determination, will now have a space to create software and applications for The Bahamas and indeed world,” Dr. Smith said.
Smith added that as the school continues its drive to university status; it is paramount to develop relationships with organizations that can help make this possible.
“As we continue our progress to university status, it is vital that we continue to develop partnerships to help us build a world class university.
“BTC has demonstrated its commitment to the college and to nation building again and again.
“We are grateful that they continue to invest in Bahamian youth and entrepreneurship by investing in the College of The Bahamas,” said. Dr. Smith.
As a part of the MOU, BTC will install the latest programming software, gaming technology, Promethean Interactive White Board Systems and video conferencing equipment.
BTC CEO Leon Williams said his company makes such donations as it believes in the importance of facilitating the College of The Bahamas, especially considering its transitioning to University status.
“We believe that is of absolute importance that we continue to invest in the future of this country.
“This new innovation lab, will serve as a centre of excellence. As the college is on the cusp of University status, it is imperative that it has a state of the art, modern facility enabling the new generation of learners.
The innovation lab is expected to harness the technological talent of the students at the college and provide tools and incentives for students to create software applications to be used in different settings.
Two of the three students who sparked the idea for the new facility described the process and how it came to fruition, Mr. Emmitt Francis said the support from their professor helped make this all possible.
“We started the process with our professor Dr. Hepburn he really gave us a lot of guidance and we brought our heads together and came up with a design we thought was golden,” Mr. Francis said.
Terranique Bullard added it was essential to make the project as modern as possible.
“This design for us was an interesting concept. We decided we wanted to push the envelope a bit further than other things you see on campus. We wanted something modern and technologically savvy,” Ms. Bullard said.
BTC has a longstanding relationship with COB, last year; it opened a franchise store at the school’s chapter one bookstore and also has a four-year scholarship programme at the college that provides funding for 10 students to pursue bachelor’s degrees.
