HLSCC Plans Bachelor's Degree In Accounting
H. Lavity Stoutt Community College has announced plans to develop a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting to expand local tertiary education options. The proposed programme is being structured to align with international standards set by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) is preparing to expand higher education opportunities in the British Virgin Islands with plans to introduce a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. The upcoming programme was highlighted by HLSCC President Dr. Richard Georges during an appearance on Virgin Islands Voice alongside Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro.
Georges confirmed that the institution is currently in the early planning stages of the degree, having identified accounting as a critical area of study for the Territory. To ensure local students receive globally competitive training, the proposed degree is being developed to align with standards established by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Georges explained that the curriculum will be structured to potentially qualify graduates for exemptions from select ACCA professional examinations, creating a more direct and accessible pathway toward internationally recognised certification. The move follows the successful launch of HLSCC's first four-year degree offering, a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, which commenced with an inaugural cohort of 10 students after receiving accreditation approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Minister de Castro emphasised that developing specialised degree programmes locally directly addresses the Territory's workforce requirements while enabling residents to complete their studies at home. Georges noted that the college carefully evaluates student demand, industry needs, faculty expertise, and development costs when designing new offerings.
Alongside creating domestic bachelor's degrees, HLSCC continues to maintain overseas transfer pathways through articulation agreements with United Kingdom institutions, including London Metropolitan University, the University of Westminster, Richmond American University, and the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering.
The development aligns with strategic priorities identified in the Government's national budget, which emphasise expanding degree programmes, distance education, and technical and professional training to prepare Virgin Islanders for key sectors driving the local economy.
Primary source: BVI Government