The College of The Bahamas (COB) and St. Thomas University, Fredericton

New Brunswick, Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Partnership and Collaboration that permits, through a five-year agreement, opportunities for collaboration at various levels. Signing on behalf of The College of The Bahamas were Dr Leon Higgs, President and Dr. Linda Davis, Vice President, Academic Affairs, while Dr. Daniel O'Brien, President signed on behalf of St. Thomas University.

The Memorandum of Understanding with St. Thomas University will allow both institutions to facilitate the exchange of faculty and students for purposes of cultural enrichment, study, internship, teaching and research projects, and the transfer of credit hours. Additionally, the agreement will promote the publication of scholarly documents and the exchange of instructional materials, educational research, publication and other educational expertise.

St. Thomas University, recognised recently as a leader among Canada's undergraduate universities by the Maclean's reputational survey, ranked among the top five in the average entering grade, number of honours students, geographic diversity of student population, research resources per student and the student services provided. Grounded in the liberal arts tradition institution, as is COB, St Thomas University is widely acknowledged for its innovative programming in arts, having pioneered applied arts programmes in journalism, criminal justice and gerontology.

Although considered the premier tertiary educational institution in The Bahamas, The College of The Bahamas alone cannot satisfy the increasing demand for higher education in the country. Networking among local, regional and international institutions is, therefore, seen as a means both of ensuring that a quality tertiary education is accessible to more Bahamians, and as a means of strengthening the higher education network.

Caption: SIGN OF COOPERATION — COB President Dr. Leon Higgs, centre, and St Thomas University President Dr. Daniel O'Brien, right, sign an articulation agreement Monday that will facilitate the transfer of credits. The agreement will also encourage student and faculty exchanges and research projects. Shown, left, is Dr. Linda Davis, V.P., Academic Affairs at COB.

Posted Wednesday April 2, 2003