In a landmark partnership aimed at broadening educational horizons and fostering academic collaboration, the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) and St. Thomas University (STU) in Miami, USA have officially signed a partnership agreement, promising to enhance educational opportunities for students from the Cayman Islands, giving them an opportunity to study in one of North America’s most dynamic and global cities.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Robert W. Robertson, President, and CEO of UCCI, and David A. Armstrong, J.D., President of St. Thomas University, at a ceremony held on June 26, 2024, in the Cayman Islands. This agreement marks the beginning of a significant collaboration designed to benefit both academic communities.
One of the central aims of this partnership is to provide UCCI students with enhanced opportunities to study in the United States, experiencing different academic cultures and broadening their global perspectives. Similarly, students from St. Thomas University will have the chance to study in the Cayman Islands, gaining valuable insights into the Caribbean culture and workforce.
Dr. Robert W. Robertson, President, and CEO of UCCI, expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnership:
This collaboration with St. Thomas University marks a significant milestone for UCCI in our mission to offer our students the finest educational opportunities.
We are excited about the potential for academic and cultural exchanges that will benefit both our students and faculty.
This partnership provides Caymanian students with the unique opportunity to study in Miami, just a short flight from home, while experiencing a vibrant and diverse culture alongside new educational and work opportunities.
St. Thomas University (STU) is a private, nonprofit, Catholic university in Miami Gardens, Florida. STU aims to prepare its students to be leaders in all aspects of life—professionally, personally, and spiritually—upholding a long Catholic tradition of academic excellence and embracing new concepts and technologies. STU offers 24 undergraduate majors, 21 graduate majors, 7 doctoral programs, and 1 professional program (Law) across five colleges: Gus Machado College of Business, College of Health Sciences & Technology, Biscayne College for Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the College of Nursing and College of Law. Additionally, STU boasts a competitive Athletics department with 25 varsity teams.
The partnership outlines several areas of cooperation, including facilitating the exchange of academic staff for teaching and research purposes, as well as student exchange and study abroad programmes, organizing joint seminars, lectures, training sessions, and academic meetings to promote intellectual exchange and professional development, sharing research materials in fields of mutual interest and exploring potential joint research and consulting projects and investigating opportunities for collaborative academic programs that can benefit students from both universities.
David A. Armstrong, J.D., President of Saint Thomas University, echoed the sentiments of Dr. Robertson:
We are thrilled to partner with the University College of the Cayman Islands and aspire to be the top choice for Caymanian students seeking to study abroad.
This collaboration aligns perfectly with our commitment to fostering global education and providing our students with diverse and enriching experiences.
The proximity of Miami to the Cayman Islands makes it an ideal location for students to explore a different culture and access a world of new educational and professional opportunities. We look forward to the many benefits this partnership will bring.
