Virginia Ballance, Managing Editor of The International Journal of Bahamian Studies, presents a copy of the newly released 40th Anniversary volume of the research journal to Dr. Earla Carey-Baines, Executive Vice President/Vice President of Academic Affairs.

A respected research publication that chronicles the evolution of the nation’s premier tertiary education institution has been released, tracing the historical highlights of The College of The Bahamas and documenting its accomplishments in higher learning over a 40-year period.

The International Journal of Bahamian Studies (IJBS) has published the second edition of its 20^th Volume which commemorates the 40^th anniversary of The College of The Bahamas. The volume captures The College’s evolution in administration, academic schools and departments, collegiate culture, and scholarly life. It also chronicles various aspects of COB’s involvement in the community.

The journal’s editor Ms. Virginia Ballance explained why this particular edition is so important.

“Dedicating an issue of the International Journal of Bahamian Studies to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The College of The Bahamas seems to be a fitting way to capture something of its rich and varied history,” she noted.

The latest volume presents a selection of papers organized in sections roughly reflecting The College’s organizational structure of academic areas and departments, and collegiate and scholarly life. Documenting the historical progression of an institution that came into being soon after The Bahamas gained its independence – and one which stands on the cusp of attaining university status – was a natural extension of the journal’s research work.

The 40^th anniversary edition also includes a contribution from College Council Chairman Mr. Alfred Sears, QC, who brought perspective to the progress that The College has achieved and the transformation that it is currently undergoing.

“The dream of a national university, rooted in the painful struggle of our people, forms our vision for the College. And that vision, embraced by the people, will become a source of power, which will liberate the minds of our people to bring the change,” Mr. Sears wrote in the introduction.

“...As we look forward on the eve of the College becoming a university, we can conclude, on the basis of the number of faculty with terminal degrees, the number of undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programmes offered, the research resources available and publications by faculty and students, that today the College is indeed a university in all but name.”

Established by an Act of Parliament in 1974, The College of The Bahamas was created through the amalgamation of four institutions: The Bahamas Teachers’ College, San Salvador Teachers’ College, C. R. Walker Technical College and the sixth form programme of The Government High School. The institution opened its doors for the first time in September 1975, with an enrolment of some 2,000 students, in a range of programmes leading to associate degrees, diplomas and certificates and General Certificate in Education (GCE) ‘A’ Level studies.

From inception, it was envisioned that The College would eventually become a university, as affirmed by former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling at the official opening ceremony. Since then, the institution has experienced steady growth.

Executive Vice President/ Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Earla Carey-Baines is a veteran member of the College community and said at the reception held to mark the 40 anniversary publication of the IJBS that research and scholarship are extremely important in the life of the institution.

“We need to be sure that the research that we’re doing is captured in written form and that is what the journal seeks to do. This edition is written by persons here at The College and it is extremely important for us to write our own history, to be telling our own story, especially as we are about to begin a new chapter in the life of this institution,” she said.

Among the research articles are: “The Changing Profile of The College of The Bahamas’ Graduates”; “The School of Education: Leading the Way for Future Generations of Teachers in The Bahamas”; “The Gerace Research Center, San Salvador, Bahamas, 1971-2007”; “Student Life at the College of The Bahamas: The Role of COBUS” and “The Impact of College Graduates on Bahamian Society: With Emphasis on Graduates from The College of The Bahamas”.