Madison Reporter

Madison College has embarked on a significant initiative to foster relationships with African higher education institutions, aiming to bolster workforce development and inspire students to seek advanced education. The college marked these partnerships with Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremonies at the University of Technology, Tourism and Business (UTB) in Rwanda on April 26, Rwanda Polytechnic on April 29, and the Institute of Technical Education and Technology in Mauritius on May 2.

"Africa is one of the centers of global population and economic growth and it is critical for higher education institutions, including community colleges, to engage with African partners to position ourselves for the future," stated Dr. Geoff Bradshaw, Madison College Associate Vice President for Global Strategy.

Bradshaw, along with Madison College Director of International Education Stephanie Belmas, visited Africa to celebrate the signing and participate in planning discussions for institutional collaboration. With Africa's population expected to double by 2050 and consumer and business spending projected to reach $6.7 trillion by 2030, the continent is poised to become a significant player in economic and international affairs.

"Madison College recognizes these powerful opportunities for collaboration across the continent," Bradshaw noted. "As our local community and the world become more influenced by Africa, it is important that our students have the understanding and background for this next era of globalization."

The leaders of the Institute of Technical Education and Technology demonstrated their new ICT facilities to U.S. Ambassador Henry Jardine, Vice Prime Minister Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, and visitors from Madison College.

These partnerships will support local education as part of a newly established Global Studies Certificate at Madison College that includes grant-funded study abroad programs in East Africa. Madison College is one among 34 U.S. colleges and universities awarded a U.S. Department of State’s IDEAS grant. This program contributes to the State Department’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts to engage the American people in foreign policy.

The Rwandan partnerships will support the Department of State IDEAS grant study abroad to Rwanda in May 2025 and leverage a partnership with UTB to scale workforce training collaboration. The partnerships will also bolster workforce development programs that enhance the capacity of African institutions to deliver education that meets global demand for skilled technical workers.

The MOU signing in Mauritius formalized the partnership with the Mauritian Ministry of Education to expand the capacity of a new Institute of Technical Education and Technology (ITET) technical college system and license Madison College curriculum for joint branded credential delivery and contract revenue generation. The new ITET system has garnered strong support from both the national government of Mauritius and the U.S. Embassy in the region. The U.S. Ambassador and Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius joined Dr. Bradshaw and others for the signing ceremony.

Dr. Geoff Bradshaw and Vice Chancellor Simeon Wiehler shared signed MOU agreements between Madison College and the University of Tourism, Technology, and Business Studies.