Toronto, Canada: Dr. Paulette Dunn-Pierre, a Jamaican by birth and internationally respected Workforce Development, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Consultant, and CEO of Dunn, Pierre, Barnett & Co. Canada Ltd., has been named by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as one of four distinguished International Experts appointed to review the Pacific Islands Regional Qualifications Framework (PIRQF). 

This prestigious appointment sees Dr. Dunn-Pierre representing the Caribbean in a global quartet of qualifications experts selected from Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Europe. The goal is to bring broad international perspectives and deep regional insight to enhance qualifications systems across the Pacific. 

Caribbean Expertise to Guide Pacific Qualifications Reform

The NZQA’s global selection strategy reflects its commitment to shaping an inclusive, high-quality education framework that resonates across cultural and geographic boundaries. Dr. Dunn-Pierre’s appointment recognises her decades-long leadership in developing and implementing robust national and regional qualifications frameworks, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 

Advancing Global Education Standards 

The international review team has been tasked with four critical objectives: 

• Providing high-level guidance to ensure country reports meet international standards; 

• Recommending strategic improvements to national qualifications systems to bolster global recognition; 

• Advising the Pacific Community (SPC) on enhancing the Pacific Qualifications Framework’s operational capabilities; 

• Producing a final benchmarking report for the Pacific Qualifications Advisory Board (PQAB) to guide the framework’s completion and implementation. 

Qualification frameworks are instrumental in democratizing access to education and certification. They provide alternate pathways for learners and workers, facilitate skill recognition, improve school-to-work transitions, and support labour mobility. As the World Bank has noted, these frameworks are vital tools in combating youth unemployment and aligning education with labour market demands. 

A Track Record of Regional Transformation 

Dr. Dunn-Pierre brings a powerful legacy of transformational work across the Caribbean to this role. Her leadership has shaped the: 

• CARICOM Qualifications Framework (CQF) 

• Regional Vocational Qualification Framework (RVQF) 

• National Qualifications Frameworks of Jamaica (NQF-J), Belize (NQF-Belize), St. Lucia (NQF-St. Lucia), and most recently, Suriname (SUR-NQF) 

Her expertise has advanced skills certification across the Caribbean and contributed to regional economic development by increasing the portability and international recognition of qualifications. 

A Global Voice for Caribbean Excellence 

This appointment reaffirms Dr. Dunn-Pierre’s leading voice in global education reform and skills development. Her presence in this critical review underscores the Caribbean’s ongoing contribution to shaping international best practices in education and workforce development. 

Sources : CHEA , New zealand qualification