The Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA) and DeVry University have signed an agreement to provide hospitality workers with expanded access to bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes.
The partnership, formalised on July 30 at Bay Gardens Marina Haven, offers eligible applicants 50 percent tuition savings and waived fees through DeVry’s Caribbean Bridge to Brilliance initiative, addressing financial and geographic barriers to higher education.
Officials from the SLHTA and Illinois-based DeVry gathered to outline the collaboration, which includes flexible online programmes in hospitality management, business administration, technology and other fields critical to the sector’s growth.
SLHTA President Erwin Louisy highlighted that while this is not the association’s first partnership with a university, it significantly raises the bar in terms of academic offerings.
“This agreement with DeVry University introduces a new dimension, one that goes beyond operational certifications to include bachelor’s, master’s, and diploma programmes in areas critical to the future of hospitality,” she noted.
“These include not only hospitality management, but also technology, human resource management, business administration, health services management, and other fields that are increasingly essential to the competitiveness of our modern tourism enterprise.”
Under the referral agreement, the SLHTA will actively promote DeVry University’s diverse academic offerings to over 200 member companies and their team members. This includes hosting and facilitating events, sharing information through communication channels, connecting members directly with university representatives, and showcasing opportunities that enhance both professional and personal growth.
Scarlett Howery, the vice president of public workforce solutions at DeVry University, expressed the university’s broader ambition to support Saint Lucia’s workforce across multiple sectors.
“While the partnership begins with the hospitality and tourism sector, its reach goes far beyond. Our goal is to support workforce development across all industries in Saint Lucia – whether in finance, healthcare, education, technology, logistics, or public and private sector initiatives –all designed to help build a more competitive, highly skilled workforce that’s ready for today’s jobs and the future.
“We recognise that customer expectations are evolving globally –consumers, travellers, clients, and even internal team members are changing how they think, engage, and make decisions. For companies to stay relevant and successful, they must evolve too. That means investing in people, the most valuable asset any organisation has.”
DeVry’s Bridge to Brilliance initiative is a global workforce development model rooted in the belief that industry and education must work hand in hand to close skills gaps and fuel business growth.
While other Caribbean nations are recognizing that the US doesn’t care about us, St. Lucia is getting deeper in bed with its colonizers. They just want our money. Be ware of those lengthy contracts St. Lucia. Be sure there is a clause to get Devry out if we need them gone. While the institution is US bases, in many instances those credentials cannot be accepted in the US. Be ware…