Sandals University Improving the Education Competencies of Its Employees

Programmes Manager at Sandals Resorts International, (SRI) with responsibility for the Sandals Corporate University, (SCU) Mark Pike says the University has been playing a major role in improving the education and technical competencies of the company’s employees.

Addressing a JIS Think Tank in Montego Bay recently, Mr. Pike said the university was established in 2012 with a view of helping to not only give employees the opportunity to obtain top level training, but to ensure that they see themselves as a stakeholder in the 35 year old Sandals organization.

“The SCU…looks at how we approach our future. Our Chief Executive Officer, (Adam Stewart) says you cannot sell the past; you can only sell the future. It is our anticipation of the future in terms of growth and development … that we realize that only if we develop the talent in our company that we can approach the future with confidence,” he stated.

The University has partnered with a number of local and international universities in offering courses in management, culinary arts, maintenance, landscaping among others.

Meanwhile, hundreds of employees have benefitted from the Sandals Corporate University over the years, and among them are Internal Audit Manager, Sherifa Brown, and Group Purchasing Administrator, Trishrone Flowers, at Sandals Resorts International.

Ms. Brown who pursued the Certified Fraud Examiner course said it has helped to change her life forever, giving her not only the training to work for the company, but to develop her personal anti-fraud skills.

“Being a recipient of a scholarship (through SCU) is a blessing because I knew I wanted to pursue this course but I never had the financial resources. Having completed this certification, I now understand the method and the laws used to resolve allegations of fraud. I am also trained to understand how fraud occurs and why persons commit fraud,” Ms. Brown said.

She also noted that her certification has allowed her to become more security and financially conscious.

“The certification is very relevant to my job function…I am now in the perfect position to assist the company in strengthening its anti-fraud programme…the Corporate University…not only builds the employee personally, it aids in their growth and development,” she added.

For her part, Trishrone Flowers who works at the Procurement Division of SRI pursued certification in Supply Chain Management.

She said her training has helped to open her knowledge of the procurement world and has put her is good stead to make educated decisions on behalf of her company.

“I have benefited greatly from doing the certification. I have been able to use my knowledge in order to make educated purchasing decisions for the company,” Ms. Flowers stated.

She added that based on the benefits she has gained, she is now empowered to “sell” her company and the rewards that can be gained by her other Team Members through the university.