The University of the Virgin Islands announced Tuesday that it has entered into agreements with six universities from around the world this year.
Since January, six memoranda of understanding now link UVI with the University of St. Maarten, the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica, Fielding Graduate University in California, Nantong University and Yangzhou University, both in China, and the University of Nebraska Omaha.
According to UVI’s news release, each of the memoranda is unique, but share a spirit of understanding.
"The common goal of the MOUs is to enhance the UVI experience, either by having students from other parts of the world in the classroom here at UVI, or by having UVI students sit in the classrooms around the world," said UVI Provost Camille McKayle, adding that "a 21st century education needs to be a global education."
On April 21 UVI entered into an agreement with the University of St. Maarten under which UVI will establish an extension campus on St. Maarten that will be called "UVI at USM." USM will provide classroom and office space for UVI to establish a physical presence.
The two schools will work to ensure students can transfer or transfer credits to either institution seamlessly, and the St. Maarten’s schools will also allow UVI recruitment opportunities with its seniors.
The memoranda with the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica was signed in January. "The CCCJ is please to be entering into a partnership with UVI," said CCCJ Executive Director Donna Powell Wilson in the statement. "The signing of the MOU is the first indication of the coming together of two institutions to make quality and affordable education accessible to individuals nationally, regionally and internationally."
Wilson said the agreement will allow the schools to share resources, provide professional development opportunities for staff and engage in research projects. Students will be able to transfer between UVI and CCCJ.
In February, UVI signed a memoranda with Fielding Graduate University. The agreement is intended to establish "mutually beneficial collaboration in academic programs, research the pursuit of grants, continuing education and certificate programs,” according to the news release.
UVI entered into a memoranda with Nantong University in April, agreeing that UVI and Nantong will work together on student exchange, faculty exchange, and collaborations on research and teaching. Details of the agreement will be worked out, the news release said.
UVI also entered into an agreement with Yangzhou University in April that aims to develop cooperative relations in academic and cultural exchange. The schools will exchange faculty members and technical staff for teaching and research, develop new academic initiatives, participate in cultural exchanges, cohost academic conferences, provide opportunities for staff development through sabbatical leave and other personal development programs, and facilitate student exchange programs.
Also in February, UVI entered into an MOU with the University of Nebraska Omaha. The agreement establishes a cooperative relationship through mutual assistance in education and research.