SEATTLE, WASHINGTON—October 25, 2024—The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is pleased to announce the launch of the U.S.-UK Community College and Technical Education Exchange. With generous support from the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, ACCT in collaboration with the UK’s Association of Colleges (AoC) will pair U.S. community colleges with UK counterparts to develop student exchange programs focused on sustainability and green skills.
“We are enthused by this innovative opportunity to build on our longstanding partnership with AoC,” said ACCT President and CEO Jee Hang Lee. “It is our hope that the first phase will catalyze an expansion to include more colleges throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, given high interest levels on both sides of the Atlantic and the importance of the programs offered. We’re excited to begin this collaboration.”
"The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation is proud to be able to enable this innovative exchange between UK colleges of further education and community colleges in the United States," said William L. Gertz, a trustee of the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation and chairman of the American Institute For Foreign Study. "The focus on sustainability is indicative of our forward momentum and our investment in the best possible future for our students and our countries."
For the initial cohort, Linn-Benton Community College (Ore.) will partner with Cambridge Regional College in England to develop a program focusing on electric vehicles, and Bergen Community College (N.J.) will collaborate with Southport College in England in the area of sustainable construction. The four colleges were selected from a robust pool of applicants from both the U.S. and the UK, and will be supported by ACCT and AoC experts in designing their exchange programs.
“This new educational exchange partnership with Southport College is groundbreaking for Bergen’s students interested in the green economy and sustainability,” said Bergen Community College President Eric Friedman. “We see tremendous benefits from the cross-cultural learning and foresee the emergence of exciting new workforce pathways.”
Linn-Benton Community College President Lisa Avery said “I am very proud of our selection for the first exchange program with the United Kingdom, ACCT, and the Association of Colleges. For LBCC, this provides opportunities to globalize our skilled trades coursework, and it allows students the chance to enhance their skills across borders. Our faculty are excited to collaborate with their partners at Cambridge Regional College, and to grow this partnership in electric-vehicle technology. LBCC’s mission involves transforming communities and building our regional economy, and this exchange is a great example of putting that into practice.”
Following an initial kick-off meeting on October 18th, the paired colleges will work together over the coming months to plan their programs. An in-person visit by U.S. institution leaders and faculty to their UK partners will take place in June, as final preparation for the launch of the student programs in the summer or fall. A student scholarship pool will be available for participants in the first exchange cohort.
While the initial deliverable for the project will be a student exchange program between each pair of institutions, the cohort-based model is intended to lay the foundation for long-term partnerships that will grow over time to encompass an array of collaborative activities.
The associations’ leaders renewed their memorandum of understanding on October 23 at the 2024 ACCT Leadership Congress, which brought nearly 1,800 community college leaders from throughout the United States and beyond to Seattle, Washington, to advance good governance practice and cultivate skills for the future.
“In an increasingly interconnected world, community colleges and technical education have a critical role to play in preparing students to succeed in a global workforce, and in tackling the grand global challenges of our time,” said ACCT Vice President for Membership and Educational Services Robin Matross Helms, who is leading the effort on behalf of ACCT. “We are excited to provide a pathway to collaboration for this initial group of colleges, and hope this will open the door for many more workforce-focused global partnerships down the road.”
About ACCT
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern over 1,200 community, technical, and junior colleges in the United States and beyond. For more information, go to www.acct.org. Follow ACCT on Twitter @CCTrustees.
About AoC
Association of Colleges is the national voice for further education, sixth form, tertiary and specialist colleges in England. We are a not-for-profit membership organisation established in 1996 by colleges, for colleges. Our members make up more than 90% of the sector - educating and training 1.6 million people each year. Visit aoc.co.uk to learn more.
About Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation
The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation supports educational initiatives and fosters intercultural understanding, carrying forward the legacy of Sir Cyril Taylor.
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