In a recent international academic mission, which took place to Canada in November 2023, the University College of the Cayman Islands’ President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Robert W. Robertson, was honoured to be selected as an invited International Scholar by Global Affairs Canada. This recognition marks a pivotal moment in UCCI’s history, enabling young Caymanians to apply for the Emerging Leaders in the Americas (ELAP) program. This program allows Caymanian students the opportunity to study in Canada for a term, fully funded by a scholarship.
This prestigious recognition for Dr. Robertson involved his participation in an educational mission across ten universities and colleges in Atlantic Canada, from November 15 to 25 2023, including a noteworthy visit to Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The mission concluded with Dr. Robertson’s atendance at the Canadian Bureau for International Education conference in Vancouver, from November 26-29.
Organized and facilitated by Global Affairs Canada, the mission brought together ten senior academics from institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and the Cayman Islands. The focus was on observing Canadian institutions’ facilities and programmes, particularly in areas related to natural resources, environmental science, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
Dr Robertson utilised the academic mission to sign agreements with several prestigious Canadian institutions, including the University of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia Community College, and the College of the Rockies. These partnerships open avenues for UCCI students to submit proposals for scholarship-based study in Canada under the ELAP programme from 2024. The initiative extends beyond student exchange, aiming to foster faculty research and exchanges, thus enriching the educational landscape of the Cayman Islands.
Dr. Robert Robertson, President, and CEO of UCCI, commented, “I am a firm believer in the world-class abilities of our UCCI students. We are commited to providing them with global opportunities to grow as young professionals. This international academic collaboration is not just an opening for our students to study in Canada but is also a groundbreaking step for the Cayman Islands in the realm of global education.”
Deborah Carty, Vice President of External Relations at the College of the Rockies, noted the importance of building connections to support students and faculty in advancing the partnership. A key element of this partnership under consideration is a joint environmental course between UCCI and the College of the Rockies, offered as a COIL—a collaborative online international learning project, involving students from both institutions.
Adding to this achievement, Dr Robertson also utilised the mission to establish a partnership with the Turks and Caicos Community College. This agreement is centred on sharing best practices in the Caribbean, enhancing the educational framework in the region.
Dr. Robertson, continued, “This mission has been an eye-opening experience, showcasing the forefront of educational innovation and collaboration. The insights and connections we’ve gained are invaluable, not just for UCCI, but for the broader educational community in the Caribbean. We’re excited to bring these learnings back home and integrate them into our programmes, particularly in areas of environmental science and technology.”
The mission concluded with participation in the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) annual conference in Vancouver, which drew more than 1300 delegates from 54 countries. The conference included sessions on global education challenges, including climate change, with a keynote address by Canadian biologist Dr. David Suzuki, highlighting the importance of education in addressing climate change.
As a next step, UCCI will conduct several workshops explaining the specific opportunities available in Canada, furthering its commitment to international education and collaboration.
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