Upstate SC News

Anderson University signed an agreement for collaboration on educational programs with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) University in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Pictured at the signing are, from left, Ann-Margaret J. Themistocleous, Director, Center for Global Engagement; Dr. Foluso Ayeni, Vice-President, Board of Trustees, ICT University; Professor Victor Mbarika, Ph.D., President, Board of Trustees and Founder of ICT University; Dr. Ryan A. Neal, Provost, Anderson University; Dr. Irene Mbarika, Quality Assurance and Ethics Director, ICT University; and Dr. Gilbert Eyabi, Interim Dean of Engineering, Professor of Mathematics. 

Anderson University entered into an agreement with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) University in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to enhance their educational programs.

The President Board of Trustees of the ICT University, Professor Victor Mbarika Ph.D.; Vice-President, Board of Trustees, Dr. Foluso Ayeni; and Director of Quality Assurance, Dr. Irene Mbarika toured the Anderson University campus recently. 

Professor Mbarika and Anderson University Provost, Dr. Ryan Neal, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will open doors for the two institutions to explore collaboration in programs of study and research, among other areas. Professor Mbarika highlighted the major areas of cooperation: mentoring, exchange of students, exchange of faculty and/or staff, professional development, and training, joint research activities and sharing of online library resources. 

During the official signing of the MOU, Professor Mbarika said that Anderson University and ICT university have much in common: they are both members of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs; also, they were both built on the foundation of Christian faith and biblical teaching. That said, both teams discussed the possibility of exploring evangelical outreaches in Cameroon through education. 

Interim Dean of the Anderson University College of Engineering and Professor of Mathematics, Dr. Gilbert Eyabi, himself a native of Cameroon, feels blessed to have helped initiate and facilitate the relationship between the two institutions.

“I believe the MOU between our two universities will be mutually beneficial,” said Dr. Eyabi. “A good number of the programs offered at ICT university have direct equivalencies with our programs in the College of Engineering, College of Business and Center for Cybersecurity. I can’t wait to be a part of a Study Abroad program that takes our students to ICT University in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and expose them to some of the programs they have like robotics, CISCO, nano satellites, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and renewable energy, just to name a few.”

“Anderson University’s strategic plan includes internationalization and expanding our global reach. We look for academic excellence in our global partners, but we also try to partner with universities that also share our Christian values, mission and purpose. These similarities create a strong foundation for a fruitful partnership to develop,” said Ann-Margaret J. Themistocleus, Director of the Center for Global Engagement at Anderson University. “Among numerous research and grant possibilities that this partnership will allow, we are also exploring the possibility of a summer study abroad program which would be led by Anderson University faculty in Cameroon. To support such efforts, the Center for Global Engagement and the College of Engineering will be submitting a joint grant proposal to the U.S. Department of State IDEAS program (Increase & Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) in order to obtain funding to support international travel for students and faculty to visit ICT University for mutual exchange. The partnership with ICT University will also support additional international efforts like letters of affiliation for faculty and student’s Fulbright applications.”

Original source can be found here.