The Caribbean Tertiary Level Personnel Association

The underlying philosophy of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago with respect to tertiary education as articulated in its Vision 2020 Action Plan 2002 - 2007, is to embark on a radical programme in support of post-secondary and tertiary education. Government envisages enrolment in tertiary institutions tripled within the next five to seven years and has identified the need for new universities and post secondary institutions with a different focus from the traditional tertiary level institutions. Accordingly, it is Government's intention not only to triple the number of persons having access to tertiary education, but to facilitate the development of a tertiary education sector that will enable the population to meet and surmount the challenges of globalization and liberalization.

There is ample cognizance of the impact on the national labour force of the impending CARICOM Single Market and Economy and the need to develop the country's knowledge capital and as a result its competitiveness in the regional job market.

The University of Trinidad and Tobago will provide a different focus to that which presently obtains. Drawing on the experiences of the various institutions which will fall under its ambit, and the maintenance of established partnerships and arrangements, the University will play its part in the development of a sophisticated society with the capacity for the application of cutting-edge information and knowledge.