The Caribbean Development Bank’s Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund training program on how to measure the economic contribution of copyright-based industries in economies (in particular, the Caribbean) will start in mid October. The accredited certification course is a collaboration between St. Lucia’s Statistics Office, Dr. Vanus James (Trinidad and Tobago) and Canaan Bridges Consulting Inc..  The virtual course will be facilitated through Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) online portal. Students should be from Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada (up to 25 students).

The course is designed for practicing professionals who fit any of the following criteria:

1. Holds a first degree in economics or related qualifications; or has already taken at least a second-year undergraduate course in macroeconomics.
2.    Practices national income accounting or undertakes sector studies in any of the National Statistical Organizations of the Caribbean.
3. Is a practicing computer programmer, especially focused on applications in statistics.
4. Works as a public servant in a national economic planning capacity.

Also note:

1. The course is wholly online, and runs for six weeks.
2. It consists of 6 modules each  – focused on how to do specific statistical measurements guided by the law. One module will be all copyright law. All others are about statistical methods and report preparation. Modules will be distributed to participants in sequence, once the training begins.
3. The course will cost US$650, to be funded by the CDB. The CDB will also provide an additional US$350 to each student to cover all additional costs.
4. The course will be examined by a group project designed to update the three studies done to date using the WIPO methodology. Each participant will be assigned to one group for this purpose.
5. The course content will be evaluated by WIPO, the course will be accredited, and the certificate for successful participation will be issued by  SALCC.
6.  The course caters for 25 qualified participants registered on a first come first served basis from the designated countries: St. Lucia, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.