The University of the West Indies' School of Education, at the Mona campus and the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which will benefit graduate students and CXC staff.

The MOU, which was signed on Tuesday, July 8, enables UWI students conducting post-graduate research to access CXC's examinations database and receive other forms of support from CXC.

In particular, students enrolled in the recently launched Master of Education in educational measurement programme will be able to access the CXC database in undertaking research. Under the agreement, graduate students will benefit from the supervision or joint supervision of their research work by CXC staff approved by the UWI.

providing opportunities

The agreement also makes provision for the School of Education to provide opportunities for CXC staff who satisfy matriculation requirements, to pursue courses and accumulate credits toward graduate degrees offered by the school. In addition, CXC staff will also benefit from attachments to the School of Education, where they will be able to use the school's facilities to undertake research from which both the school and CXC will benefit.

In signing the agreement, Professor Zellyne Jennings-Craig, director of the UWI School of Education, said the idea was the brainchild of Professor Stafford Griffith, who worked assiduously in the development of the Master of Education in educational measurement for delivery, both on-line and face-to-face. Professor Jennings-Craig noted that the first batch of on-line students started the programme last September, while the first batch of face-to-face students will begin the programme in the new academic year.

strengthen the programme

According to Professor Jennings-Craig, "the agreement with CXC will strengthen the programme by providing students with opportunities to undertake research of a new type aimed at improving practice in the field of psychometrics".

Dr Didacus Jules, CXC registrar, who signed on behalf of CXC, said he hoped the MOU would strengthen ties between the council and the UWI. The vice chancellor of the UWI, Professor Nigel Harris, is the current Chairman of the Caribbean Examinations Council. According to Dr Jules, "CXC has 30 years of Caribbean students performance data which if interrogated appropriately could better inform teaching and learning practices in Caribbean schools".