The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of North Alabama (UNA).

The agreement will give BTVI graduates conditional guaranteed admission to UNA to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Students will also be able to attend UNA classes online while still enrolled at BTVI. This will allow them to easily and quickly transfer to UNA to complete the remaining degree courses after they complete an associate’s degree program at BTVI.

The agreement further provides scholarships to BTVI graduates, including housing.

UNA offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Computer Information Systems, Human Resources Management, Computer Science, Culinary Arts Management, Fashion Merchandising and Design, Hospitality and Events Management, Information Technology and Mass Communication in Journalism and Digital Media.

UNA’s President, Dr. Ken Kitts, expressed the university’s excitement in partnering with BTVI.

“This is a partnership that will provide a variety of opportunities in a number of our exceptional academic programs that will be beneficial to BTVI students whether online or on campus. It is collaborations such as this that allow UNA to truly be a global campus,” he said.

Meanwhile, BTVI President, Dr. Robert W. Robertson, underscored the importance of providing BTVI’s students with more options to study abroad following their studies at the institution.

Dr. Robertson has long been a proponent of preparing students for the global stage and firmly believes the MoUs and articulation agreements forged, widen options for BTVI’s students and graduates.

Additionally, Minister of Education, the Honorable Jeffrey Lloyd congratulated BTVI executives for their commitment to education and training as The Bahamas continues its path of rapid excellence in closing the skills gap in the country.

“We are at our highest enrollment yet at BTVI, and I congratulate UNA and BTVI on this fine work and that BTVI joins the many other countries represented at UNA,” he said.

The agreement is effective immediately, and 25 BTVI students have applied for Fall 2021 admission to UNA. BTVI has memoranda of understanding and articulation agreements with colleges in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.