ABCAS Pathways Summit Equips Graduands For Success
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua and Barbuda - The Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies held its Graduate Seminar and Pathways Summit 2026 on Tuesday, June 23, at People's Place, bringing together educators, employers, entrepreneurs and industry professionals to prepare graduating students for their next academic and professional steps.
The summit was organised in the lead-up to ABCAS's inaugural graduation ceremony, scheduled for July 2. Dr. E. Jonah Greene, President of ABCAS, and Dr. Vernon Solomon, Chair of the ABCAS Board of Trustees, delivered remarks at the opening ceremony. The event marks a milestone for the college, which will hold its first-ever graduation ceremony in just over a week.
Attendance reflected broad institutional support across Antigua and Barbuda's education sector. Dr. Na-Ajele Williams-Buffonge, Vice President of ABCAS, was present alongside Mrs. Dalso Henry, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education. Members of the ABCAS Board of Trustees also attended, as did representatives from the Five Islands Campus, the Board of Education and the Antigua and Barbuda Accreditation Board.
The programme addressed four areas: workplace readiness, financial literacy, wellness and entrepreneurship. Ms. Carlene Spencer, Learning and Development Manager at a regional hospitality employer, shared perspectives on what today's workforce landscape demands from new graduates. Mr. Kurt Jno Baptiste led a session on financial empowerment, providing practical guidance for students entering professional life. The summit also featured presentations of entrepreneurial success stories, offering graduands direct exposure to business journeys and models operating in the region.
For ABCAS graduands, the summit provided structured contact with potential employers and industry mentors at a pivotal transition point. The presence of Mrs. Dalso Henry, representing the Ministry of Education at the level of Permanent Secretary, signals formal government recognition of the college's role in preparing Antigua and Barbuda's workforce. With representatives from the Board of Education and the Antigua and Barbuda Accreditation Board also in attendance, the gathering carried the weight of the island's main education oversight bodies.
The July 2 graduation will be the first in ABCAS's history. By convening employers, educators and entrepreneurs in a single forum ahead of that ceremony, the college gave graduands practical insight into the options available to them across sectors - from salaried employment to independent enterprise. The combination of workplace readiness training, financial literacy and entrepreneurship content suggests the institution is preparing students not only for immediate job placement but for longer-term financial independence.
The Pathways Summit positions itself as a bridge between formal study and real-world entry. Whether it becomes a fixture ahead of future ABCAS graduation cycles remains for the college to determine, but its debut drew a notable cross-section of the education community and private sector on its first outing
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