Photo – (L-R) COSTAATT President- Dr Keith Nurse, IDB Technology Consultant- Dane Sandy, COSTAATT VP Student Affairs- Helen Williams-Cumberbatch, COSTAATT VP Human Resources- Alvinelle Matthew, CARIRI CEO- Hans Erich Schulz, COSTAATT VP Academic Affairs- Naseem Koylass, COSTAATT Director Technology Services- Darren Headley, COSTAATT VP Digital Transformation and Information Technology- Kevin Ramsoobhag, Fujitsu Caribbean’s- Kristerbella Sookdeo, COSTAATT Director Educational Technologies and Distance Education- Liesel Gransaull-Brown, IDB Country Representative- Julian Belgrave, COSTAATT VP Finance- Davis Ragoonanan, Fortinet Territory Manager- Rodney Murally
PORT OF SPAIN — The College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT) officially launched its TechHub and Upskilling Academy on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at its City Campus rooftop. The event brought together industry partners, technology leaders, government stakeholders, and members of academia in a collective commitment to advance Trinidad and Tobago’s digital future.
The launch reflects COSTAATT’s strategic commitment to align education with industry needs and equipping citizens with the skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
In his opening address, COSTAATT President Dr. Keith Nurse underscored the role of education as a catalyst for national competitiveness. He described the TechHub and Upskilling Academy as transformative enablers designed to build a skilled, innovation-ready workforce and emphasised COSTAATT’s role as a key driver of the country’s digital and sustainable development agenda.
Dr. Naseem Koylass, Vice President of Academic Affairs, described the Upskilling Academy as a strategic investment in workforce development, aimed at creating pathways for individuals at every stage of their careers. She noted that the Academy will focus on short, stackable credential programmes, sector-responsive training, and rapid workforce preparation in high-demand areas such as health technologies, green and blue economy, digital business, and creative industries. She emphasised that the model is designed to respond to evolving labour market trends, giving learners the agility to re-skill and upskill without pausing their careers.
Kevin Ramsoobhag, Vice President of Digital Transformation and Information Technology, introduced the TechHub as a practical, hands-on innovation and training centre designed to bridge the digital skills gap, foster local innovation, and strengthen Trinidad and Tobago’s talent pipeline for the global economy. He highlighted that students, entrepreneurs, and professionals will work directly with cloud computing environments, cybersecurity simulation labs, AI-powered learning platforms, and hybrid infrastructure tools, ensuring that training mirrors the demands of modern workplaces and results in job-ready, industry-certified talent.
The event also featured remarks from Hans Erich Schulz, CEO of the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), who applauded COSTAATT’s leadership in bridging education and industry and stressed the value of strong partnerships to support innovation and sustainable development.
Representatives from the private sector also lent their support to the initiative. Rodney Murally of Fortinet and Kristerbella Sookdeo of Fujitsu Caribbean both emphasised the importance of partnerships between academia and industry in building a future-ready workforce. They highlighted the critical role of digital skills development in strengthening national competitiveness and supporting innovation.
The launch was attended by over 50 industry representatives, faculty, students, and media stakeholders, signaling broad national interest in advancing digital readiness.
