Valerie Palamountain had three weeks to create an economic development plan for an entire country.
Palamountain, dean of workforce development at Piedmont Virginia Community College, had been chosen as Bermuda’s first Fulbright specialist. She spent the month of January in meetings, discussions and tours of the small nation, trying to draft a one-stop-shop plan to lower unemployment and get more jobs on the island.
“It was insane,” she said of the pace of work. “But the people I worked with were fabulous. I had access to whatever I needed and we ended up doing a pretty thorough analysis of best practices in other countries and the commonwealth, and how to implement them.”
At the end of her Fulbright term, Palamountain delivered a comprehensive economic development plan, and said she formed connections and gained new insight into her job in Charlottesville.
The island’s government chose Palamountain for her hands-on experience with project management and economic and career development, said Bermudian Sen. Jason Hayward, junior minister of education.
Bermuda’s population is about 65,000. Its main industries are banking, insurance and tourism. Cost of living and basic goods are high and, with a two-year college being the highest education possible, most Bermudians who leave the island for an advanced degree don’t return.
“The biggest obstacle to workforce development implementation in Bermuda would be the failure to engage employers and industry as partners in the workforce development system,” Hayward said. “Currently, there is very little employer engagement, and there is no common vision throughout the system, leading to an inefficient and ineffective system.”
Palamountain made suggestions for adding technology programs, reaching out to underserved populations, opening satellite offices in cities throughout the country and adding a financial assistance arm.
“I was trying to help them see that if they want to be a one-stop workforce development program, there has to be a change in the way they think, rather than just a new sign on the building,” she said.
Most importantly, Palamountain said, employers need to be included in conversations.
“Valerie helped us to understand that as our economy shows signs towards recovery and industry continues to seek skilled and qualified talent, workforce development strategies and programs must be facilitated in a way that meets workforce demands and provides positive employment outcomes for Bermuda,” Hayward said.
Those suggestions and Bermuda’s problems, Palamountain said, aren’t that different than issues being addressed by American community colleges. Brain drain and access to technical skills are big topics in Virginia, particularly in the southwestern region of the state.
The fun part about working in Bermuda, though, she said, was getting to throw the full power of national attention and resources at the same topics she deals with in Virginia.
“It really gives me ideas of things we can do at PVCC and regionally,” Palamountain said. “Getting employers involved is a big goal, and I think we should start looking at a wider range of industries and employers, not just the ones that have always been here.”
Palamountain’s economic development report will be delivered to Bermuda’s Senate and turned into legislation and a budget item this spring.
“If all of this works, it could really become a model for other Caribbean nations,” she said.
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