As The College of The Bahamas (COB) continues its transition to university status, the focus on international partnerships becomes ever more clear, as was highlighted by recent talks with Ambassador of Ireland to The Bahamas Dr. Ray Bassett.
Bassett met with new COB President Dr. Rodney Smith, Secretary to the College of The Bahamas Council Michael Stevenson and others at COB to discuss cooperation between COB and tertiary institutions in Ireland.
"It was a very good meeting," Bassett told Guardian Business. "My hope is to build some strong bilateral connections. Both The Bahamas and Ireland evolved out of the old British Empire and therefore inherited many similar institutions and practices, including the use of Common Law. Therefore it is a natural linkup."
Bassett noted that all universities are trying to increase their international connections, and pointed out that with COB set to become the University of The Bahamas next year, seeking and securing international partners would become the norm.
"I have been in contact with a number of universities in Ireland, and several have indicated a desire to link up with the COB," he said. "We are providing names and email addresses for the follow-up."
"It is likely that institutions will want to put their cooperation on a firm legal basis by signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) which would outline their future cooperation," he added.
Bassett also told Guardian Business that he was working to interest Bahamian students in studying in Ireland.
"Many Bahamian students in the past studied in London," he noted. "The U.K. has become more restrictive in its student policy towards countries outside the EU. Ireland is seeking to attract some of those students as an alternative."

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