From left are: President of The College of The Bahamas Dr. Rodney Smith; Bahamas Permanent Representative to the United Nations His Excellency Dr Elliston Rahming; Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Perry Christie and OAS Director of the Department of Human Development, Education and Culture, Mrs. Maria Levens. (BIS Photo by Peter L. Ramsay)
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The
President of The College of The Bahamas Dr Rodney D. Smith has signed
an Organization of American States (OAS) Cooperation Agreement that
formalizes student scholarship and faculty teaching and research
opportunities.
President Smith signed the agreement on Friday, April 10th, 2015
following the inaugural University Presidents Forum held under the
auspices of the VII Summit of The Americas in Panama City, Panama.
The accord paves the way for a reciprocal arrangement under which
students and faculty of The College of The Bahamas will be able to study
and teach at tertiary institutions in other OAS-member countries, while
students and faculty of those institutions will
participate in study aboard and academic instruction experiences at The
College.
As it transitions to become the University of The Bahamas, The College
has been embracing these kinds of opportunities to enrich its academic
community and advance diversity in academic instruction, learning and
leadership.
"For cohesive, but diverse higher education that will have a strong
impact on development in the region, we must begin to partner with each
other. While we each want our institution to be the institution of first
choice for our national students, we must extend
our borders and welcome study abroad and student exchange opportunities
with each other," President Smith explained of the arrangement while
participating as a panelist at the university presidents forum.
College of The Bahamas President Dr. Rodney D. Smith signs the OAS Cooperation Agreement, flanked by OAS Director of the Department of Human Development, Education and Culture, Mrs. Maria Levens. The signing took place in the presence of Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Perry Christie and other ministers of the Government of The Bahamas. (BIS Photo by Peter L. Ramsay)
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The Government of the Republic of Panama invited President Smith to
attend the first ever Forum of University Presidents of the Americas at
the VII Summit of the Americas. He was one of the first speakers at the
forum which attracted approximately 450 university
presidents from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
Dr Smith made his presentation as a member of a panel of Presidents that
also included the University of Panama, University of Havana,
Georgetown University and the University of Mexico.
"We
are excited about receiving your faculty and students as we seek to
send faculty and students to other
OAS member institutions," noted President Smith. "This diversity will
strengthen higher education in the region and it will drive innovation
specific to the development of island nations with differing
challenges."
He signed the OAS Cooperation Agreement at an official ceremony in the
presence of Prime Minister Right Honourable Perry G. Christie, who is
also Chairman of CARICOM. Minister of Labour and National Insurance
Honourable Shane Gibson; Minister of Foreign Affairs
and Immigration Honourable Fred Mitchell; Minister of Health Honourable
Dr. Perry Gomez and Minister of National Security Honourable Dr.
Bernard Nottage were also in attendance at the signing ceremony.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, including the Permanent
Representative to the United Nations His Excellency Dr. Elliston
Rahming, and Permanent Representative to the OAS His Excellency Dr.
Eugene Newry, were also present.
The forum of university presidents was organized to examine cooperation challenges with a view to achieving
prosperity through education.