College of Coastal Georgia recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Anguilla Community College, located in the Caribbean Islands, in a move that CCGA administrators hope will promote international education opportunities for its students, faculty and staff.

The memorandum, signed Feb. 3, aims to promote cooperation in the exchange of students, faculty and staff for both schools.

Tracy Pellett, provost and vice president of academic affairs at CCGA, and James Lynch, the interim director of international education and director of institutional effectiveness, visited Anguilla this month to meet with government and education officials and to sign the MoU.

CCGA is honored to forge a connection with Anguilla, its people, and its Community College, Pellett said during the signing ceremony. We see immediate partnering and impact opportunities that we will be following up on in the next few months. We are fortunate to have this opportunity to further enhance our cultural, programmatic and professional understanding and development.

LeRoy Hill, dean of studies and acting president of ACC, said during the ceremony that the MoU is guided by the schools interests in several fields, including coastal ecology management, biological and environment science, health sciences, hospitality management, education and maritime research and training.

A seed is a powerful metaphor for this occasion, Hill said. Not only because it represents the opportunities and potential for bearing fruit, but a seed in this setting also represents an historical-cultural connection.

Conversations between CCGA and ACC about forging an international education partnership began several months ago.

During our extended conversations with government dignitaries and education officials, we all shared the same feeling of excitement and optimism given education areas of common interest underscored by a strong focus on student welfare and success through impassioned teaching and learning at the heart of this evolving partnership, Lynch said.

Costal now has four formal memorandums of understanding with international schools. The college also recently signed them with two other Caribbean institutions in Belize Ecumenical Junior College and Stan Creek Independence Junior College. And in 2015, CCGA began a partnership with the American College of Greece.

ACC greatly values the partnership with the College of Coastal Georgia and hopes it will be long lasting and mutually beneficial for both institutions, said Rodney Rey, ACCs chairman of the board of governors.

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