Brookdale Community College is going global.
Earlier this week, officials at Brookdale signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Africa Universities Fund that will expand Brookdale’s educational offerings and training opportunities to a worldwide audience.
“We are excited to be able to bring the Brookdale Community College education around the world,” Brookdale Community College President David Stout said. “This is the first time that we are going across the ocean to leverage the reach and power of online remote learning, which will be beneficial not only to the students of Nigeria, but also tremendously beneficial to our students.
“This will give them the opportunity to have connections and live interaction with people from another country who share similar goals and dreams.”
This partnership will facilitate the enrollment of Nigerian students to Brookdale’s academic and certificate programs, in-person and online. In addition, it will support students enrolling in “future of work” STEM fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, data science and other areas that strengthen young people’s knowledge and skills in the digital economy.
AUF plans to equip the Future of Work Africa Learning Center in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This center will provide a remote live learning center for students enrolled in Brookdale’s online courses and additionally serve as a resource center for information about U.S. higher education, and Brookdale in particular.
Joe Madu, founder and president at US Africa Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the board of directors of AUF, said his group was grateful for the partnership.
“I extend my appreciation for supporting our mission to the board of trustees and for the leadership of Dr. Stout,” he said. “Additionally, I am grateful to Dr. Janice Thomas, director of the International Education Center, and Mr. Ed Johnson, executive director of governmental affairs and community relations at Brookdale, for their untiring efforts to build bridges and break barriers and be a source of light.”
AUF officials said they strive to inspire, nurture and harness the skills, creativity and employability of millions of young people in Africa by creating awareness and advancing opportunities for skills-based teaching and learning at the higher education level.
Through partnerships and collaboration with higher education institutions, AUF is committed to extending critical resources and opportunities to empower young people in Africa by democratizing access to education and training in science and technology.
Chijike Ndukwu, secretary-general of Africa Universities Fund, said the possibilities are large.
“If we can have people trained in the new data science option that Brookdale offers, then they would be able to contribute to their country and families,” he said. “Providing the best higher education opportunities in the world, especially American education, to young people from Africa is an element that reaffirms the economic, cultural and social bond that exists between Africa and the United States of America.”
Magdalene Venn, board member of the Africa Universities Fund, said she hopes the partnership will be a great precedent.
“This is a very great idea, and I want to thank your school for letting us use your platform and your expertise and staff and for reaching out to make a difference in other parts of the world,” she said.
