Campbell and Roznayai define tertiary education as any education undertaken after the successful completion of secondary education, which may include post-secondary vocational education (leading to a certificate) and l higher education (leading to a bachelor's degree), although the designation is often used synonymously with higher education (Campbell & Rozsnyai, 2002, p. 133). Within the Caribbean, economic prosperity and social cohesion are inextricably linked to the Caribbean's ability to provide an increasing proportion of successive population groups with access to tertiary education. The speed at which countries in the region move along the development trajectory rises and falls based on their ability to deliver relevant, high-quality tertiary education. Tertiary education provides recipients with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that help formulate and preserve societies' core values. It is the vehicle that stimulates the growth of human capital and provides access to new technological capabilities, which are the basis of social and economic development. However, there are a number of issues related to accessing tertiary education in the Caribbean region. Both Barbados and St. Kitts and Nevis share the same issue of increased social demand for tertiary education; however, they differ in the quality assurance framework of tertiary education and the diversity of tertiary education providers. In comparison, the social demand for tertiary education continues to increase in Barbados and St. Kitts and Nevis, as individuals anticipate that tertiary education will reap economic prosperity and social progress. In Barbados, demand for tertiary education has continued to increase, as evidenced by the large number of people… middle of paper… in action. Retrieved from: http://www.caribank.org/titanweb/cdb/webcms.nsf/AllDoc/6B87811BAE9416C6042578DB004584C5/$File/Speech_The_Paradigm_Shift_in_Education_Final_Website_%20edited_26Jul2011.pdfHarvey, L., (200 4 -12). Analytical glossary of quality. International quality research. Retrieved from: http://www.qualityresearchinternational.com/glossary/tertiaryeducation.htmMiddlehurst, R., & Campbell, C., (2004). Second Global Forum on International Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Recognition of Qualifications. Expand access to quality higher education. Retrieved from: http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/files/31917/108797996937E-Campbell-Middlehurst.pdf/7E-Campbell-Middlehurst.pdfGittens, C., (2005). A report on higher education in St. Kitts and Nevis. Retrieved from: www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve/.../national_report_on_higher_education-final.pdf