feb-2018c

B arbados isprovingtobeanattractive location for internationalmedical universities.Themost recentones tosetupthereareBridgetown Inter- nationalUniversity(BIU) andVictoriaUniversityof Barbados (VUB),both located inSt.Michael.Theybringthe numberof internationalmedical schoolsoperatingonthe islandtoseven. BothBIUandVUBareexpectedtoaccept their first in- takeof students–approximately500each–fromSeptem- ber1,2018.Theywill consistofpersons fromIndia,Ghana, Sri Lanka,SouthAfrica,andNepal.The twoschoolshave teamedupwithoneof India’s largest educationproviders, RusEducation IndiaPvt.Limited,toensure that theventure isasuccess. Duringa recentmeetingwithMinisterof Education,Sci- ence,Technologyand Innovation,Ronald Jones,chairmanof RusEducation IndiaPvt.Ltd.,DrS.K.Washimdisclosedthat therewereplans inanother fiveyears tobuildacampus in Barbados toaccommodate5,000students. Additionally,bothuniversitieshavecommittedtoencour- aging investments for the island intheareasof tourism, housing,retail,andother infrastructure.Washimpointed out that thecollaborationwithBIUandVUBwasexpected togenerateapproximatelyUS$300million inrevenue into the local economyover thenext fiveyears. Jones saidthe introductionofmedical schools inBar- BARBADOS BECOMINGMEDICAL EDUCATIONHUB