Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Jul 06, 2025

BVI government signs agreement to promote academic relations

BVI government signs agreement to promote academic relations

In a Government Information Services release, The Government of the Virgin Islands has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote cooperation and positive academic relations with the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom (UK).
The MoU presents a wide range of opportunities for exchanges and collaboration in higher education between the Virgin Islands and the University of Hertfordshire. These include student, faculty and staff exchanges, supported distance learning programmes and collaboration on joint research projects between the University of Hertfordshire and the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in the Virgin Islands.

The agreement with the university came about as a result the wider partnership between the Virgin Islands and Hertfordshire County in the UK. Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie while speaking on the relationship stated that the relationship began with the exchange between sports officials in the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Premier Fahier said subsequently, ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games, several BVI Olympic athletes were hosted by a group of kind families in the Hertfordshire village of Aston during their training period. And since then, the relationship has blossomed.

“A group of Hertfordshire education officials visited the Territory in 2014 to deliver training to newly qualified teachers and complete work in early childhood education,” the Premier said. He added, “We have also had a BVI environmental and fisheries officer visit with colleagues in Hertfordshire to discuss environmental management; and on the BVI side, we have been pleased to host a number of Hertfordshire County graduate management trainees at our BVI London Office for their familiarisation days.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley stated that the partnership will benefit the Territory tremendously and complement the existing tertiary programmes on offer at the HLSCC.

“Teacher training, special needs education, agriculture and tourism are priority areas that come to mind. I also see this partnership as a great opportunity for research in areas of mutual interest,” Honourable Wheatley said.

President of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), Dr. Richard Georges reiterated the benefits of the partnership and the importance of collaboration adding that he was pleased to see the signing of the agreement between the Government and the University of Hertfordshire.

Dr. Georges said, “It provides a framework by which the college can engage in fruitful partnership in key priority areas as well as opportunities for students, faculty, and even staff exchange. The world is ever shrinking and it is important for us to embrace the spirit of collaboration and partnership to face the challenges of the future.”

The MoU between the Virgin Islands and Hertfordshire County was signed in November 2011 and is approaching its 10-year anniversary. The twinning partnership allows for collaboration in areas of mutual interest including sports, education, higher education opportunities, community engagement, supporting those with physical disabilities, developing community link, youth behavioural interventions, economic development and graduate work experience exchanges. The BVI London Office acts as point of liaison for the partnership in the UK.

Also present at the signing were University of Hertfordshire Vice Chancellor, Professor Quintin Mckellar CBE; Pro Vice Chancellor for Business and International Development Professor, Julie Newlan; Permanent Secretary Premier’s Office, Dr. Carolyn O’Neal-Morton; Permanent Secretary MCECYFA, Mrs. Carolyn Stoutt Igwe; Acting Director BVI London Office, Ms. Tracy Bradshaw; Deputy Director BVI London Office, Ms. Siobhan Flax and other officials.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture is thankful for the partnership and will continue to provide opportunities for the professional and educational advancement of the people of the Virgin Islands.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×